Yemen protesters urge end to foreign interference

Yemeni protesters have staged a demonstration in the capital, Sana’a, demanding an end to foreign interference in their country’s internal affairs.

During their rally on Friday, the Yemeni demonstrators accused the United States and Saudi Arabia of meddling in Yemen’s politics by supporting fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi.

The protesters also voiced support for the Ansarullah movement and other popular committees that have formed councils in a bid to fill a power vacuum left following Hadi’s resignation.

Similar rallies calling for an end to the meddling of foreigners with the internal affairs of Yemen have been held in the past weeks.

Saudi Arabia has approved Hadi’s proposed plan to host the country’s national dialogue in the capital Riyadh, instead of the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, which is currently under control of the Houthi movement’s Ansarullah fighters.

The Houthi movement has strongly condemned the Saudi offer, unequivocally refusing to participate in the talks.

Hadi (pictured below) stepped down in January, but the Yemeni parliament did not approve his resignation, which he later withdrew after leaving the capital. The Houthi movement, however, said Hadi had lost his legitimacy after escaping Sana’a.

The embattled Yemeni president fled Sana’a on February 21 after weeks under effective house arrest and went to the southern port city of Aden, where he said he would resume duties.

Recently, an aide to Hadi also quoted him as saying that he considers Aden to be Yemen’s capital.

Some Persian Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, have already relocated their embassies from Sana’a to Aden.