All Yemen’s intelligence units will be also included in the restructuring and evaluation operation approved by the PLC…reports Asian Lite News
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has declared a new plan for unifying the pro-government Yemeni army and security forces in the war-ravaged Arab country.
According to a statement released by the state-run Saba news agency, a high-ranking military committee was formed by the PLC on Monday to begin restructuring the pro-government army and security forces in a step aimed at maintaining peace and security in Yemen, Xinhua news agency reported.
Rashad Al-Alimi, PLC President, approved the formation of “the joint military committee entrusted with realising security and stability, as well as restructuring the armed and security forces.”
The 59-member committee, led by Haitham Qassem Taher, would also strive to avert internal conflicts among Yemeni pro-government forces in Aden and elsewhere, according to the statement.
The newly-approved committee will “adopt policies prohibiting the emergence of armed conflicts throughout Yemen, taking necessary steps to realise the integration of armed forces under unified leadership in accordance with the rule of law, and ending all armed conflicts,” the statement said.
All Yemen’s intelligence units will be also included in the restructuring and evaluation operation approved by the PLC.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when Houthis overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa.
Reopening of Taiz
Representatives from the Yemeni government and the Houthi militia concluded an initial round of discussions without reaching an agreement on opening roads around the besieged province of Taiz, said UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg.
However, Grundberg described the results of the talks as “promising”, noting that a proposal for the phased re-opening of roads around Taiz, “including an implementation mechanism and guarantees for the safety of civilian travellers”, was drawn up based on the three-day discussions, reports Xinhua news agency.
The Yemeni-Yemeni talks on opening the blocked roads of Taiz and elsewhere began on May 25 in Jordan’s capital Amman, and are part of the UN-brokered truce that came into effect on April 2.
“I now call on the parties to conclude their internal deliberations urgently and deliver positive results to the Yemeni people,” said Grundberg.
“Lifting restrictions on the freedom of movement of people and goods will not only have a positive impact on alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people and reviving the economy but will also help cultivate confidence in the political process,” said the UN envoy.
The Yemeni government forces, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, have been locked in clashes with the Iran-allied Houthi military in the north, east, and west of Taiz since April 2015.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when Houthis overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa.
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