Yemen government issues demands to Houthi rebels following seizure of Amran

SANAA, Yemen, July 9 (UPI) -- Houthi rebels seized control Tuesday of Amran, the capital city in Yemen's northern Amran province.

The British Foreign Office condemned the violence, with Minister for the Middle East Hugh Robertson reiterating, "The British Government fully supports the Government of Yemen and urge all parties to immediately cease hostilities and adhere to existing ceasefire agreements."

The renewed fighting, which began in late June, comes amid a challenging government transition.

Mohammed Albasha, Yemen's spokesperson in Washington, D.C., relayed that in response to the cease-fire violation, Yemen's Supreme Security Committee issued four demands required of the Houthi movement:

1) Evacuate all army, police and state-occupied facilities in Amran;

2) Pull out all armed fighters from Amran;

3) Surrender all looted equipment from the army and government in Amran;

4) Preserve the life of the 310th commander and officers in Amran.

On Wednesday, Jamal Benomar, Assistant United Nations Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Yemen, briefed the U.N. Security Council on the latest developments in Yemen, including Tuesday's seizure of Amran, at the request of the U.K. Mission to the U.N.