BREAKING NEWS

UN Security Council may use sanctions to bolster Yemen

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council will consider imposing sanctions if an al-Qaida faction and others fail to stop disrupting Yemen's transition to democracy after the end of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh's 33-year rule, according to a draft resolution.
The draft text, obtained by Reuters, has been agreed by the permanent five veto-wielding members of the 15-nation council - Britain, the United States, France, Russia and China - and is likely to be adopted later this week or next week, council diplomats said.
The council "demands the cessation of all actions aimed at undermining the Government of National Unity and the political transition, including continued attacks on oil, gas and electricity infrastructure, and interference with decisions relating to the restructuring of the armed and security forces."
If such actions continue, it "expresses its readiness to consider further measures" under Article 41 of the UN charter, which allows the council to impose economic and diplomatic sanctions on countries and people that ignore its decisions.