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Yemen’s Parliament to Resume Sessions in Reaction to Political Council | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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People gather around a tank used by pro-government fighters in the Bir Basha neighborhood, after they took the area from Houthi insurgents in Yemen’s southwestern city of Taiz March 11, 2016. (Reuters photo)


Cairo, Taiz-Yemen’s Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr said parliament will convene in a liberated area within the country to assume its constitutional role, in response to the rebels’ establishment of the political council.

In exclusive remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper on Wednesday, the Yemeni premier said that the majority of members in the General People’s Congress (GPC) were supporting the legitimate government, contrary to recent claims by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had stated that the GPC was still backing the rebellion.

Daghr noted that military airstrikes conducted by the anti-Houthi alliance would end when a political solution is reached. He also praised Saudi Arabia’s role in dealing with the crisis in his country.

Speaking on the sidelines of his recent visit to Cairo, Daghr thanked the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council for sending humanitarian aid to the majority of Yemeni governorates.

Commenting on Iran’s threat to Arab states, the Yemeni premier said that Arab leaders should review the Persian State’s practices and positions towards their countries to adopt a unified Arab stance against such interference.

“Iran is trying to settle scores with Gulf and Arab countries; wherever we hear about sectarian strife, we find Iran’s interference in it,” the Yemeni official said.

On the Yemeni crisis, Daghr said: “We are waiting for more positive stances from the international community; we expect the adoption of an important resolution by the United Nations Security Council, especially that the legitimate government has offered many compromises to reach permanent peace.”

The Yemeni premier noted that progress has been reached in the military operations to liberate the capital Sana’a and other occupied areas. He also stressed that the security situation in Yemen has witnessed some improvement.

Meanwhile, Arab League Deputy Secretary General Ahmed bin Heli stressed the League’s keenness on providing all necessary support to President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi and the legitimate government to reach a comprehensive political solution in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2216 and the implementation mechanisms of the Gulf Initiative.

Following a meeting with Daghr on Wednesday, Heli highlighted the need to unify international and Arab efforts to restore the government’s sovereignty over all Yemeni territories.

He also said that the Arab League would spare no effort to remove all obstacles hindering a political solution to the crisis in Yemen.