UN's Ban Ki-moon calls for immediate cease-fire in Yemen

The UN secretary general says "The Saudis have assured me that they understand that there must be a political process. I call on all Yemenis to participate in good faith."

By REUTERS
Followers of the Houthi movement raise their rifles as they shout slogans against the Saudi-led air strikes in Sanaa (photo credit: REUTERS)
Followers of the Houthi movement raise their rifles as they shout slogans against the Saudi-led air strikes in Sanaa
(photo credit: REUTERS)
UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called for an immediate halt to the fighting in Yemen, the first time he has made such an appeal since Saudi-led air strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels began three weeks ago.
"I am calling for an immediate cease-fire in Yemen by all the parties," Ban said in a speech to the National Press Club in Washington. "The Saudis have assured me that they understand that there must be a political process. I call on all Yemenis to participate in good faith."
Last week, the United States said it was speeding up arms supplies to the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi fighters opposed to US-allied Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters on a visit to Riyadh, Blinken called for all political parties to commit to what he called a consensus political solution, and said Washington was stepping up intelligence sharing with the anti-Houthi alliance.
"Saudi Arabia is sending a strong message to the Houthis and their allies that they cannot overrun Yemen by force," he said, referring to Riyadh's leadership of a military campaign by several Arab countries to prevent Iranian-allied Houthis from ruling over the whole of Yemen.
"As part of that effort, we have expedited weapons deliveries, we have increased our intelligence sharing, and we have established a joint coordination planning cell in the Saudi operation center."
Warplanes from Saudi Arabia and Arab allies have been striking Shi'ite Muslim rebels fighting to oust Hadi, in an attempt by the regional heavyweight to check Iranian influence in its backyard.
Sunni-ruled Gulf states aim to use military pressure to push the Houthis to resume a UN-backed political transition led by Hadi that was interrupted by the group's seizure of Sanaa in September.
Their takeover angered Riyadh, which sees the once obscure Zaydi Shi'ite group from the northern highlands as terrorists.
On Wednesday, the United Nations envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar announced his resignation on Wednesday. A veteran Moroccan diplomat, he helped broker a 2011 transition plan in Yemen which unraveled.