UNITED NATIONS : The United Nations Security Council on Sunday urged Yemen’s Shiite Houthi militia to cede power, release President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and negotiate to emerge from the crisis.

All 15 members of the council unanimously adopted a resolution drafted by Britain and Jordan to that effect.

“The Security Council has spoken in one voice and delivered a strong and united message,” British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said.

His Jordanian colleague Dina Kawar stressed that “we need to prevent Yemen from sliding into the abyss.”

Ahead of the vote, the Houthis had made clear their determination to maintain their grip on power, despite intense pressure from the UN, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League.

The Arab League has called a meeting of its diplomatic chiefs on Yemen to take place Wednesday.

In its resolution, the council demanded that the Houthis engage in “good faith” in UN-brokered negotiations, “withdraw their forces from government institutions” and “relinquish government and security institutions.”

It also demanded that the militia release Hadi, Prime Minister Khaled Bahah and other members of his cabinet currently under house arrest or otherwise “arbitrarily” detained.

All parties must “accelerate inclusive UN-brokered negotiations” and set a date for a constitutional referendum and elections, the resolution added.

It raised the possibility of sanctions, without going as far as Gulf countries, which have demanded coercive measures under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter.

A new council resolution would be necessary for sanctions to be applied.

In November, the council slapped sanctions on ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh and two Houthi leaders.