Vice President enforces ceasefire in Taiz, hails international efforts

By Mohammed al-Kibsi An immediate ceasefire was imposed in Taiz city starting from sunset of Sunday after vice president Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi had ordered government and opposition forces to implement an immediate truce. Over 30 people were killed in Taiz including civilians, government soldiers and fighters affiliated to the defected army and Islamic militias during the past few days. However the spokesperson of the Yemen government, deputy minister of information Abdu Al-Janadi said in his press conference today that the ceasefire was a result of the heavy stick of the US ambassador and ambassadors of the permanent members of the UNSC. Al-Janadi expected to announce the new interim government on Sunday if no negative development might happen. Hadi also hailed all the international efforts exerted to put an end to the Yemeni political crisis. During his meeting with Director of the UN Electoral Assistance Division Craig Jenness, Hadi praised the international community's cooperation that helped Yemen to avoid a serious situation, asserting the significance of the political and democratic solutions to maintain the security and stability at the local, regional and international levels. The Vice President underlined the importance of Yemen's stability for the world and region's security, saying that the international interests were required to secure over 3.5 million barrels of oil pass daily through the Gulf of Aden and Bab el Mandeb to Europe, America and various countries. He also briefed the UN official on the latest developments in the local arena after signing the GCC brokered deal and its executive mechanism. He also tackled the arrangements for the early presidential election on February 21 as well as the aid Yemen needs for the transitional phase. The UN official valued highly the role played by the vice president, affirming the UN keenness to provide the necessary support and mobilize the resources required to finance the early presidential elections.