[16/March/2010]

SANA’A, March 16 (Saba)- An official security body has accused the al-Houthi elements of delaying the implementation of the six points of a ceasefire deal between government troops and the rebels in northern Yemen.

‘’In light of follow-up reports and field operations of the one-month old national committees overseeing the implementation of the six points in Saada province and Harf Sufyan of Amran province, the al-Houthis are still putting obstacles in front of the committees in order to discharge their duties properly’’, the Supreme Security Committee said on Tuesday.

Saada had suffered from a sporadic six-year war between the government troops and al-Houthi rebels since 2004. The last round of the war was erupted in August 2009.

On February 12th, a ceasefire deal was announced by President Ali Abdullah Saleh following the acceptance of Abdul-Malik al-Houthi of the government's six points.

The ceasefire deal contains:

- Al-Houthi commitment to ceasefire, eliminating landmines and leaving positions and hideouts.
- Rebel withdrawal from all districts of Saada and stopping interference in the local government's duties.
- Returning looted military and public equipment and properties of Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
- Releasing Yemeni and Saudi captives.
- Obeying the law and constitution.
- Pledging not to attack Saudi lands.

The security committee explained that the Saada committees are still ranging in the implementation of the first point because of the Houthis.

‘’The al-Houthis are refusing to deliver landmines which have been removed in some areas to the government in order to be destructed. Also, the al-Houthis returned again to some sites after leaving, established new checkpoints and committed numerous violations and attacks on citizens and some public and private installations’’, the committee confirmed.

The committee called on the al-Houthis to commit fully to the six points and not to obstruct the national supervisory committees for bringing peace, stability and development to Saada and Harf Sufyan.

The security body also asked the Houthis to enable displaced people to come back to their homes and their villages in the war-infected areas in Saada and Harf Sufyan.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that about 250,000 Yemenis have been displaced by the protracted conflict in Saada.

UNHCR said that there is an urgent need to address the dangers posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance, as people begin to return to their areas of origin in Saada, making reference to the Interior Ministry reports that showed that since the ceasefire was announced at least five people have been killed and 20 injured as a result of contact with such explosive devices. Most of these were children.

YA

Saba