Iran 'ready to aid Yemeni security'
AL-JAZEERA
Iran has said that it is ready to help restore security in Yemen, which is currently engaged in a deadly conflict with an armed Houthi opposition group.
Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's foreign minister, made the offer on Wednesday, a day after Tehran warned Middle Eastern governments against interfering in the affairs of the the Arab Peninsula country.
"Iran is prepared to co-operate with the government of Yemen and other nations in order to restore security [in Yemen]," Mottaki said at a news conference.
Mottaki said that the fighting in north Yemen between government forces and the Houthis, who are from the Zaidi sect of Shia Islam, can be resolved by "collective efforts".
"It can restore security, peace and tranquility among the people of Yemen and the whole region.
"Any measure in contrast of such approach will serve the enemies of Islamic and Arab states. We believe that any approach other than this will not serve the interests of regional nations."
Saudi offensive
The Houthis have been fighting for the last four years for a return to autonomous rule. The group has said that they have been economically and politically marginalised by the Yemeni government in Sana'a.
Attacks by both sides have escalated since August and this week Saudi Arabia, Yemen's northern neighbour, launched an offensive against the Houthis on the countries' border. This followed the killing of a Saudi border guard in a cross-border raid by the Houthis.
Mottaki asserted that regional nations should "seriously hold back from intervening in Yemen's internal affairs".
"Those who pour oil on the fire must know that they will not be spared from the smoke that billows," he said.
Sana'a has previously accused Iran of supporting the Houthis, whereas one of the Houthis' complaints against the government is its closeness to the Saudis.
Hasham Ahelbarra, Al Jazeera's correspondent in north Yemen, said: "In the first reaction to Mottaki the Yemini government rejected any interference in its own affairs.
"They said that ... the fight with the Houthis is a local issue. That it is not a sectarian fight, the government is not siding with the Sunnis against the Shias. Saying the government respects all the sects in Yemen ... but this is just a fight against a rebel group.
"Saudi is saying that they will continue fighting until the Houthis move beyond a buffer zone 10kms deep. It seems unlikely the Houthis will respect this.
"The Houthis have said they are not fighting the Saudi people, but are concerned about the Saudi government providing Yemeni soldiers with access to strategic points ... therefore [they say] they were put in a situation where they had to attack to take whole control of the area.
"Saudi Arabia is definitely concerned that this could lead to more instability whereby a radical Shia group - a label the Saudis use for the Houthis - will be emboldened to spill over and attack Saudi Arabia and perhaps give more assistance to a Shia minority in Saudi Arabia."
Ahelbarra also said that the Yemeni government has claimed on Wednesday to have attacked northern Houthi targets, killing dozens of opposition fighters, as well as deploying the coast guard along the northwestern coast, where there is also a Saudi blockade.
"Because that area is extremely strategic and they have concerns that the Houthis might get shipments of weapons from arms smugglers or different parties to continue fighting the Yemeni government."
Posted by PIMPIN TURTLE at 11/11/2009 10:18 AM 
Categories: THE WAR MACHINE,Latest News,Middle East
Tags: Sunni Zaidi Houthi Shia Saudi Arabia Yemen Iran
Categories: THE WAR MACHINE,Latest News,Middle East
Tags: Sunni Zaidi Houthi Shia Saudi Arabia Yemen Iran
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