Obama reiterates US support for Yemen to achieve transition’s goals

By Mohammed al-Kibsi

US president Barack Obama confirmed Saturday his country's support for Yemen until ending the current crisis's aftermaths and achieving the transitional phase's goals.

Obama's statement was included in a letter handed over to Vice President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi by US Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism and Assistant to the President John Brennan.

The US president expressed his appreciation of the national magnificent role the Vice President has played during the crisis in Yemen.

"Hadi is enjoyed the regional and international confidence", Brennan said, pointing to the international community's understanding to the importance of supporting Yemen in the transitional phase to realize all the desired goals.

He accented the US would present all kind of assistance, especially in the critical circumstances Yemen is undergoing currently.

Brennan asserted that the US follows up closely the achievements in Yemen under the political settlement deal, voicing his country's satisfaction with the accomplished steps according to the Gulf initiative and the UN resolution 2014.

In return, Hadi valued highly the US president's good feelings and all efforts enhancing the political settlement in the country.

"We, in Yemen, are happy of the US partnership in tackling all issues", Hadi said.

The VP indicated to the great challenges Yemen faces, topped by restoring the security and stability in addition to enhancing the economic situation.

Baroness Emma Nicholson escapes assassination attempt in South Yemen

By Mohammed al-Kibsi

Member of British House of Lords, Baroness Emma Nicholson and two Yemeni ministers escaped an assassination attempt when some militants affiliated to the Yemeni Southern Movement randomly fired machine guns at a vehicle boarding the Baroness and two Yemeni female ministers in Aden city on Tuesday, said security and local sources from Aden.

The baroness was accompanying the Yemeni minister of human rights Horya Mashhour and minister of state Jawharah Hassan to observe the presidential elections.

Eye witnesses said that unidentified militants fired machine guns at the motorcade of the baroness and that her vehicle was hit by at least 4 bullets.

However security sources affirmed that the Baroness and the two ministers were not hurt.

The security forces fired back at the attackers and forced them to runaway.

Local sources from Aden said that tens of militants affiliated to the Southern movement were deployed to Aden city in an attempt to foil the presidential elections.

The militants fired to the air so as to scare citizens and ban them from going to the elections centers. At least two kids were killed in Aden by the militants.

The head of the security committee of the Yemeni Elections and Referendums Commission judge Saba al-Haji affirmed that the elections were successful and that at least 80% of the voters turned out to the balloting centers to cast their voices. However he said that the elections were halted in 9 constituencies five of the in Dale province, three in Lahj province and one in Abyan province due to disturbance created by extremist militants.

Later on the day local sources affirmed that the Southern Militants forced at least 16 percent of the balloting centers in Aden to close down.

Some other violent events broke out in Shabwa province, and in Hadrmout province where the Southern movement militants clashed with the security forces in an attempt to foil the presidential elections.

Over ten million eligible Yemeni voters are expected to take part in the presidential elections to elect the sole candidate AbduRabu Mansour Hadi as a president of Yemen after President Saleh signed a GCC brokered deal to end the crisis in Yemen.  

Baroness Emma Nicholson was head of the EU Commission for Observing Yemen’s Presidential elections in 2006.

She arrived in Yemen last week to take part in observing the early presidential elections to elect Hadi as a president of Yemen.

Emma Nicholson was appointed to the House of Lords in 1997. She is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Human Trafficking and speaks regularly on health care and education in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Nicholson is also the Executive Chairman of the Iraq Britain Business Council, an organisation which facilitates business and trade investment in Iraq. Between 1999 and 2009 she was a member of the European Parliament, where she served on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Whilst there, she generated controversy through her strong opposition to international adoptions, which she believed had become a market and subject to corruption. The Romanian government implemented legislation to control the practice of de facto adoption as a result, in part, of her pressure.

Nicholson spent a decade in the Commons before gaining elevation to the peerage. For much of this time, she was a Conservative, only switching her allegiance to the Liberal Democrats in 1995 after declaring her disillusionment with the Tories. Before joining the latter party – and quickly gaining the position of Spokesperson for Overseas Development and Human Rights – Nicholson was a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michael Jack, aiding him at the Treasury (1995), Ministry of Agriculture (1993-95) and Home Office (1992-93). She entered the Commons in 1987 as the MP for Devon West and Torridge. She had previously been vice-chairman of the party and director of fundraising at Save the Children. She joined the charity in 1974 after spending thirteen years working for a computer company, where she was a software designer and systems analyst. Nicholson was born in 1941.

Russian President’s envoy to visit Yemen soon

Yemen and Russia discussed here on Wednesday the current arrangements for a visit of the Russian President’s envoy to Yemen expected to be paid next week, said Saba news agency.

This came during a meeting brought together Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi and Russian ambassador to Yemen Sergei Koslov.

During the visit, the Russian official will get acquainted from senior Yemeni officials with the steps undertaken by the government in the implementation of the Gulf initiative, topped by the preparations for the presidential election scheduled for February 21.

Al-Qirbi and Koslov reviewed possible means to enhance the cooperation relations between Yemen and Russia in various areas.

Source: Saba News Agency

Tens killed in confrontations between Houthis and Salafies in North Yemen

By Mohammed al-Kibsi

Over 50 people were killed in fierce confrontations took place in the northern Yemeni province of Hajah between al-Houthi followers and Sunni tribal alliance fighters on Sunday and Monday, said local sources.

Al-Houthi rebels carried out an offensive on Sunday and Monday on some Sunni-held posts in Kushar district of Hajah province; but they were faced by strong counter attack launched by the Sunni tribal men supported by Arab Afghan fighters.

Over 600 families were evacuated from the disputed areas to other districts, said local sources.

Confrontations break out between Sothern militants and Yemen forces, two killed

By Mohammed al-Kibsi

At least two people were killed in clashes erupted in al-Dale province in South Yemen between Yemeni military forces and militants affiliated to the so called Southern Movement on Thursday, said local sources from Dale.

The confrontations broke out after some protesters rallied in Dale town against the early presidential elections. Tens of militants accompanied the protesters in the rally and when they reached to the center of the elections committee the militants fired RBG’s, rocket propelled grenades and machineguns at the elections committee’s office killing 2 people, said independent sources.

The army forces positioned on the surrounding mountains interfered and fired back at the assailants wounding at least 12 of them, forcing them to withdraw from the elections office.

Dale’s militants have a history of intimidation against people of the neighboring province of Abyan province that is the home land of Vice President Abdu Raboo Mansour Hadi who is nominated for the upcoming presidential elections as a sole candidate.

The two factions of the former communist party of the former Southern Socialist Republic of Yemen had involved in bloody confrontations that lead into killing tens of thousands before the reunification of Yemen that was achieved in May 1990.

One of the factions is from Dale and the other is from Abyan.

The people of Dale did not like Hadi to rule Yemen asking for separation so as to regain control of the power that they used to have before the reunification of the country. 

"The army forces located at military positions overlooking the town opened fire on thousands of people protesting against the upcoming presidential elections," a leader of the southern separatist movement told Reuters.

"One demonstrator died immediately and another 12 were injured, while another man who was standing on the balcony of a hotel adjacent to the electoral committee's office was killed by a stray bullet."

Some gunmen affiliated to the southern movement attacked the electoral committee's office in Dale last month.

The former president of south Yemen Ali Salem Albeidh said his people would not give up their fight for independence.

"Crimes like these (committed on Thursday) will not dissuade us from continuing our peaceful struggle until our people are given their freedom and independence