‘Governing’ body made by rebels deals big blow to Yemen dialogue

Yemen’s rebel Shiite Houthis and forces loyal to their ally, deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh, on Saturday appointed a council to govern Yemen, in a new blow to UN-led peace talks. The announcement came as the UN prepared to suspend peace talks in Kuwait.
The rebels announced the creation of the council on July 28, shortly before rejecting a UN peace plan because it did not meet their key demand for a unity government.
That condition amounts to an explicit call for the removal of the internationally recognized President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. 
Hadi’s government, which accepted the UN peace plan, has denounced the creation of the council.
UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said it would damage the talks and represented a “grave breach” of UN Security Council Resolution 2216.
The governing council includes 10 members, equally divided between Houthi and Saleh loyalists, according to a list published by the Houthi-controlled Saba news agency.
Cheikh announced Saturday that peace talks to end the country's ruinous civil war would go into a one-month recess.
The talks, held in Kuwait, have failed to make any tangible headway. No venue was announced for the talks when they resume.
"The biggest obstacle we faced is the lack of trust between both parties, despite our efforts," said the envoy. "We are leaving Kuwait today, but the peace talks will go on. I want to reiterate that we are on the right path."

Source: Arab News