SANAA, 29 July 2004 — Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh yesterday asked leading opposition figures, along with government officials, to participate in a fresh mediation effort with Hussein Badruddin Al-Houthi, a radical cleric accused of leading an armed rebellion in the north of the country.

Leaders of five main opposition parties, two Cabinet ministers, eight legislators, five prominent religious scholars and eight tribal chieftains would join a mediation team led by Al-Houthi’s father.

They will try to secure the surrender of the Shiite cleric whose armed followers have been battling since June 21 government forces surrounding their hideouts in the Maran district of the mountainous northern province of Saada. The reinforced mediation team was due to travel to Maran yesterday, a government official told Arab News.

Al-Houthi is accused by authorities of leading an armed rebellion and inciting violence through organizing protests against the United States and Israel.

Two rounds of talks last month failed to bear fruit as Al-Houthi refused to surrender.

Last week, government forces halted attacks on strongholds of Al-Houthi to allow mediators meet the besieged cleric.

Tribal sources, however, said the fighting continued this week and that scores of people were killed or injured.

According to the transcript of Saleh’s order, posted on the Defense Ministry website, the inclusion of opposition figures in the mediation panel was in response to a demand by the opposition parties.

In a speech marking his 26 years in power on July 17, Saleh accused “foreign forces” of backing Al-Houthi.

“I point my finger directly to foreign forces. He (Al-Houthi) is but a tool in the hands the foreign forces,” the Yemeni leader said. “It is the work of foreign intelligence. It is not a sectarian strife nor a rivalry for power.”

Government forces backed by tanks, artillery and helicopters surrounded Al-Houthi’s hideouts in Maran on June 21 and launched a massive assault on his armed followers, estimated to number over 1,000.

More than 200 people, including over 40 soldiers, were killed since the clashes erupted, according to official estimates.