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| Arabia |
| Yemeni peace talks |
| 2015-06-08 |
| [DAWN] After over two months of bloodshed in Yemen, the first serious signs of a negotiated settlement to the conflict are emerging. As reported on Saturday, both the Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews... rebel militia as well as Yemen's exiled government have agreed to attend UN-sponsored peace talks scheduled for later this month in Geneva. The fact that the Houthis have said they will attend without preconditions is encouraging. The need for a negotiated settlement is essential. The Yemeni internal conflict -- which intensified after a Saudi-led coalition started bombing the Houthis and forces loyal to former president President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... in late March -- has claimed over 2,000 lives. According to the UN, around half of the casualties are civilians while close to a million people have been displaced. Moreover, the global body says up to 80pc of the Yemeni population requires aid, which has been difficult to deliver due to the hostilities. Of course, between now and June 14 -- the tentative date for the talks -- a lot can happen. For example, around the same time the news of the Geneva talks was emerging, there were reports that forces allied to Mr Saleh had attacked Saudi border positions. Along with the Yemeni factions drawn into the conflict, it is equally important that the external players involved in this scenario -- Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... and Iran who are supporting the government and the Houthis respectively -- are on board and support the grinding of the peace processor. |
| Posted by:Fred |