Yemen's President Warns of Civil War
Yemen's President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi warned of an imminent "civil war" in the country as Shi'ite Muslim rebels took over the capital city of Sanaa
"(The combat in Sanaa) emphasises to us the painful bitterness of fighting among our people and the danger of entering into a civil war," Hadi said in a speech addressing political and security chiefs at his headquarters Tuesday, Zawya reports.
The Sunni-majority nation is facing a crisis as Shi'ite insurgents are dictating terms to a weakened and fractured government. Overshadowing a UN-brokered peace agreement, the rebels seized key institutions of the capital city.
"Sanaa is facing a conspiracy that will lead towards civil war," Hadi said two days after the separatists claimed major areas of Sanaa.
Hadi cautioned that in case of a war, the Houthi rebels - who represent the Zaydi Shi'ite sect or around 30 percent of Yemen's total population (25 million) - will face a coalition of Sunni Islamist as well as tribal groups along with a few of the top families and generals.
"Many powers came together, either those who lost their interests in Yemen or those pushed by their personal grievances to take their revenge on their country rather than on individual, or the opportunistic who take advantage of any disaster to attack the country," Hadi added, Al Jazeera reports.
The Houthis have struck a deal that will allow them to become a part of the government; however, it is not clear whether it is enough to satisfy their demands, or will it instead encourage them to ask for more powers.
