Houthi rebels demand their militia join army, police

SANAA: Yemen’s Shiite rebels who overran the capital, Sanaa, are demanding their militia becomes part of the country’s army and police force as a precondition for talks on releasing the nation’s president and Cabinet members from house arrest, a senior politician said Monday.
The demand is the latest in the power grab by the Houthi rebels who last month raided the presidential palace, months after taking over key state institutions and military facilities after descending from their northern stronghold into Sanaa in September.
The demand, along with other conditions put forth by the rebels, could thwart UN efforts to find a negotiated solution to the crisis in Yemen.
The Arabian Peninsula country, which is also home to a formidable Al-Qaeda affiliate, has been leaderless since President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi submitted his resignation from the presidency last month after the Houthis pressured him for a greater share of power and besieged his home.
On Monday, Abdullah Noaman told The Associated Press that his Nasserite Party pulled out of UN-brokered talks the day before, after the Houthis demanded that their 20,000-strong militia join the country’s military and security forces as a precondition to any kind of deal.
He accused Houthis of using the talks as “political cover to complete their coup.”
On Sunday, the Houthis gave Yemen’s political factions a three-day ultimatum to reach an agreement, otherwise they said they’ll take over themselves.