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Friday, February 12, 2010     GET REAL

Yemen calls for ceasefire with Iran-backed rebels

CAIRO — Yemen has declared a ceasefire that could end its nearly seven-month war with Iranian-backed Shi'ite rebels.   

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has ordered the military to end attacks on the Believing Youth movement, which has been fighting in the north near the border with Saudi Arabia, Middle East Newsline reported. The ceasefire was said to have taken effect on Feb. 12.

"We have decided to halt military operations in the northwestern region to stop bloodshed, bring peace to the region, return displaced people to their villages, begin reconstruction and achieve national reconciliation," a statement by Saleh's office said.


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This marked the latest of several ceasefires announced by Yemen. Heavy fighting was reported over the last week despite an agreement by the Believing Youth to Sanaa's six conditions for a truce, including a rebel withdrawal.

Officials said four joint panels would be established and sent to the Saada province to monitor the ceasefire. They said the Saleh regime would reconstruct areas damaged by the latest fighting.

"According to what was agreed upon, [Shi'ite rebel leader] Abdul Malik Badr Eddin Al Houthi issued instructions to all fronts and battle areas to stop firing in accordance with the timing announced by the government," the Believing Youth said on Feb. 11.

Sanaa has demanded the return of seized Yemeni and Saudi military equipment as well as the release of all soldiers and civilians. Other conditions included the Shi'ite rebel withdrawal from areas captured over the last few months near the Saudi-Yemeni border.

Saudi Arabia has not responded to the latest ceasefire decision by Yemen. Shi'ite rebels reported intense Saudi air strikes on northern Yemen, including 33 air strikes on Feb. 9. Shi'ite rebels said 120 Saudi missiles were fired.

The Believing Youth said the Royal Saudi Air Force was using its Western-origin fighter-jet fleet to support Yemeni troops. The rebels said a Yemeni infantry brigade was surrounded and attacked.

"After all hope was lost to supply the infantry brigade and attempts from all directions to break the siege failed, Saudi aircraft dropped packages of food to the [Yemeni] paratroopers, which fell outside the siege area," a rebel statement said.



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