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Minister Tobias Ellwood calls for the immediate and safe release of Prime Minister Bahah, Cabinet Ministers and all individuals arbitrarily detained or under house arrest.

Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood welcomed the news that President Hadi is no longer under house arrest and called for the immediate release of all individuals arbitrarily detained and the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2201

Mr Ellwood said:

I welcome the news that President Hadi is no longer under house arrest. I commend his recent statement reconfirming his support for the to the political transition based on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative and the implementation mechanisms. I also welcome his reaffirmation of support for a unified Yemen.

I now call for the immediate and safe release of Prime Minister Bahah, Cabinet Ministers and all individuals arbitrarily detained or under house arrest.

The UK condemns the use of military means to achieve political aims. The Houthis used military force to assert control of Sana’a and then dissolved Parliament. Such unilateral actions are a clear take-over of power by one faction in violation of the 1994 Yemeni constitution and the principles of the GCC Initiative. The UN Security Council was clear that the Houthi must withdraw from government institutions immediately and implement UNSCR 2201 and other relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

I urge all parties and groups to engage constructively in the negotiations led by the UN Special Advisor Jamal Benomar.

The United Kingdom will continue to work internationally to help Yemen achieve a legitimate, transparent political transition in which all Yemenis are represented.

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