RIYADH — The Kingdom is keen that Yemen maintains its unity, independence and sovereignty, an official source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.
He said the Kingdom always calls on Yemenis to safeguard their unity with all its different components, and not to take any decision that might cause disintegration of the social fabric of Yemen and lead to internal seditions.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s defense minister was set to resume his duties from second city Aden on Sunday after escaping from the Houthi-controlled capital, a source in the president’s office said.
Gen. Mahmud Subaihi made it safely to Aden but one of his guards was killed in a firefight with Houthi militiamen during the escape, an aide told AFP.
The militiamen captured another five people traveling in the second convoy but later released them under pressure from local tribes, the aide added. Hadi, who tendered his resignation in January, withdrew it after escaping to Aden last month saying it had been offered under militia duress.
The city, which was the capital of an independent south Yemen before its union with the north in 1990, is largely in the hands of troops and militia loyal to the president.
Hadi said on Saturday that he now regards it as the capital of the united country because of the militia’s grip on Sanaa.
This article was first published in the Saudi Gazette on March 8, 2015.
