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Saleh has no role in Yemen's future, says minister

Abu Dhabi - Yemen's foreign minister Abdul Malik Al Mikhlafi says Houthi rebels can return and set up a political party after surrendering their arms.

The Yemeni government is ready to hold talks at any place, any time to find out a political solution to the ongoing conflict, country's Foreign Minister Abdul Malik Al Mikhlafi said while addressing media in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the Arab foreign ministers meeting on Monday.
"The United Nations special envoy to Yemen, Ould Sheikh Ahmed, will leave the capital Sanaa to convince the rebels for talks to boost the process of confidence building," he added.
Al Mikhlafi said the rebels are on the retreat and they will be pushed back to their stronghold Sada.
"Time is not in favour of the rebels as they have been cornered, they have no plan for dialogue following Geneva negotiations. They have no principles for political dialogue," he said. Al Mikhlafi said the ousted Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh has no future, after the sanctions imposed by United Nations, while the Houthi rebels can return and set up a political party after surrendering their arms.
"The government is ready to provide food and medical supplies and send aid to all areas in the country, and we have noticed that the rebels have taken advantage of the people's need and started selling these supplies in the black market", he added.
"The Yemeni people are well aware that Saleh and the Houthis did not turn against the government in a military coup, but turned against Yemen", he said.
"Houthis arrest all the activists and throw them in jails illegally, and whereabouts of some of those detainees are unknown", he said noting the rebels arrest any activist who expresses his opinion in any means of social network will be held by them, and they arrest thousands of people .
"They should work on building trust, release the detainees, stop media incitement and economic pressure, as they (the rebels) are attempting to tamper with the central bank and the future of the Yemeni people, without knowing the consequences of what they are doing", the Yemeni foreign minister said.
Al Mikhlafi said arms are smuggled to them by Iran and some other groups and figures showed that Al Hudaida seaport works over its capacity, more than before the occupation.
"The siege of Taiz is ongoing by the militias," the foreign minister said and wondered why some international organisations were not taking notice of the matter".
malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com