Arab League Chief Reiterates Call for Political Solution in Yemen

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul-Gheit with Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani (Saba)
Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul-Gheit with Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani (Saba)
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Arab League Chief Reiterates Call for Political Solution in Yemen

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul-Gheit with Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani (Saba)
Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul-Gheit with Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani (Saba)

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit stressed on Monday the importance of finding a political solution to the Yemeni crisis based on the three references.

Aboul Gheit's comments came during his meeting with Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani in Cairo on the sidelines of the Arab League Council’s 150th session at the ministerial level.

Aboul Gheit's spokesman Mahmoud Afifi said in a statement that the Sec-Gen was briefed on the latest developments in the Yemeni crisis in light of the failure of the last round of negotiations due to Houthi militia leaders' absence.

The two officials also discussed the military operations in Yemen's western coast and other areas.

During the meeting, Yamani said the Houthis' pretexts for not attending the Geneva talks proved that they do not seek any peaceful solution to the crisis, Afifi added.

The FM renewed the legitimate government's commitment to peacefully ending the crisis despite Houthi attempts to sabotage peace efforts and recent peace consultations in Geneva.

Aboul Gheit stressed the importance of restoring legitimacy through a political solution based on the three references – the Gulf Initiative, the outcomes of the Yemen's National Dialogue Conference and UN Resolution 2216.

He also held the Houthis responsible for prolonging the Yemeni conflict and the people’s sufferings.



Syria’s Sharaa Agrees with Ex-opposition Factions to Merge Under Defense Ministry

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
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Syria’s Sharaa Agrees with Ex-opposition Factions to Merge Under Defense Ministry

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa reached an agreement on Tuesday with former opposition faction chiefs to dissolve all groups and consolidate them under the Defense Ministry, according to a statement from the new administration.
Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir had said last week that the ministry would be restructured using former opposition factions and officers who defected from Bashar al-Assad's army.
Sharaa will face the daunting task of trying to avoid clashes between the myriad groups.
Syria's new rulers appointed Murhaf Abu Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency that toppled Bashar al-Assad, as defense minister in the interim government.
Syrian opposition fighters seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8, forcing Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war.