Yemen on brink of civil war: UN envoy

CAIRO: The United Nations’ special envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, has warned that the country is on the brink of civil war and accused all sides of contributing to the political and economic turmoil.
Yemen is slipping further into chaos as the Houthis, an Iranian-backed Shiite militia from the north, consolidate their grip on power after seizing the capital in September and sidelining the central government.
The fighters have been advancing into southern territories, confronting Sunni tribesmen, other groups and the local branch of Al-Qaeda.
“We believe the situation is very dangerous. Yemen is on the brink of civil war,” Benomar said in an interview with television channels al Arabiya and Al-Hadath late on Wednesday.
Benomar said Yemen’s economy was facing imminent collapse and called for more dialogue to reach a peaceful settlement.
“They are all party to what has happened so far, they have all made mistakes and follies and sometimes groups resorted to violence to realize political aims,” the envoy said.
The Houthis said Thursday a decision by Western powers to close their embassies was “unjustified,” as Al-Qaeda fighters overran an army camp and seized heavy weaponry.
The US, Britain and France have rushed to close their embassies over security fears, with US staff destroying top-secret documents and sensitive equipment before pulling out.
But Hussein Al-Ezzi, described as the militia’s foreign relations chief, said the closures were designed to “pressure” the Yemeni people.