HADI MUST BE RESTORED AS YEMEN PRESIDENT: UN CHIEF

King Salman meets with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, left, in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)" width="336" height="203" /> Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman meets with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, left, in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)

Riyadh, 19 Rabi’ul Akhir 1436/9 February 2015 (MINA) – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Sunday for the restoration of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi’s authority after Houthi militia seized power.

“The situation is very, very seriously deteriorating, with the Houthis taking power and making this government vacuum,” Ban said, referring to the Shiite militia which dissolved the Sanaa government and Parliament on Friday, Arab News quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“There must be restoration of legitimacy of President Hadi,” the UN chief told reporters after talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

Earlier, Ban conveyed his condolences to King Salman, the royal family, the government and the Saudi people, on the passing of King Abdullah. Ban highlighted King Abdullah’s efforts to promote progress in Saudi Arabia and his hard work to tackle regional and international challenges. He underscored the late king’s initiatives to promote inter-faith dialogue, lauding his vital humanitarian support to fight poverty and hunger through the UN.

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Most of the topics covered during his meeting with the king focused on the Syrian and Iraqi crises, Yemen turmoil and general stability in the Middle East.

“We agreed that everything possible must be done to reduce terrorism, both from Yemen and from Islamic State, ” Ban said.

“The king reaffirmed his support for the Arab Peace Initiative, which I warmly welcomed. We also discussed how the UN can contribute to global efforts to counter terrorism, and I thanked His Majesty for the continued support of Saudi Arabia.” Ban said.

The UN head also held talks with other senior Saudi officials including Ali Al-Naimi, minister of petroleum and mineral resources and Nizar bin Obaid Madani, minister of state for foreign affairs, on regional peace and security, development, climate change and other issues of common interest. (T/P001/P3)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)