UN Meets to Discuss Violence in Yemen

For the first time ever the United Nations met late on Tuesday to discuss the decaying political and social situation in the country of Yemen. Civil rights groups there have claimed that two months of demonstrations demanding the resignation of the president have already resulted in the death of at least 120 people.

On Tuesday security forces loyal to the Yemeni government opened fire on demonstrators resulting in the deaths of at least three and sending UN representatives to the discussion table to try and hammer out a plan to create calm in the strategically crucial country.

The efforts at the U.N. however, were less than useful as the international peace-keeping body could not agree on a statement which was put forth by Lebanon and Germany. The statement called on the sides in Yemen “to exercise restraint and to enter into a comprehensive dialogue to realize the legitimate aspirations of the Yemeni people.”  The statement also called on the sides to adhere to the role of the Gulf Cooperation Council to mediate the dispute.

While the U.N. discussed Yemen in the Security Council a delegation representing the Yemeni government was on its way to Abu Dhabi, part of the United Arab Emirates, for negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, a six-nation body, to discuss a proposal for the President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to transfer power to his deputy, which is believed will end the crisis. Similar talks were held by the opposition parties in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.