SANAA: Yemeni political forces who oppose the Shiite militia that has seized control of Sanaa formed an alliance against it Saturday, saying they want to restore state authority and rebuild weakened security forces.

Yemen descended into chaos after the militia, known as Houthis, seized Sanaa in September and then began a push to spread their influence further afield.

The newly formed National Salvation Bloc groups Sunni and secular parties, as well youth groups, tribal alliances and members of the Southern Movement, which seeks greater autonomy for the formerly independent south.

It also includes dissident southern members of the General People’s Congress, the party of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is suspected of backing the Houthis.

It aims to restore state authority and “prevent the collapse of the army and security forces and rebuild them,” said a statement after a formational meeting in Sanaa. And it criticized “illegitimate” measures taken by the Houthis and rejected the state being controlled by militias.

The challenges threatening Yemen led them to unite in face of what they called the “destructive” consequences of the latest developments in the impoverished and deeply tribal country.

The bloc includes such major political parties as Muslim Brotherhood-linked Al-Islah, hard-line Sunni Al-Rashad and the Nasserist Unionist People’s party.