Riyadh deal on Yemen close to implementation

Amira al-Sharif

A breakthrough seems to be imminent in the Yemeni crisis.

The Legitimacy Coalition issued a statement in which it declared the completion of preparations for enforcing the Riyadh agreement on Yemen.

The agreement enforcement would start as of Dec. 12, the coalition said.

It added that plans were also made to implement the military section of the agreement.

Yemen’s political players also agreed to form a government made up of 24 ministers, the coalition said.

It added that the new cabinet lineup would be declared next week.

Coalition military observers are also expected to start field supervisions to ensure the implementation of an agreement for the disengagement of troops in the southern Yemeni Abyan.

Troops included in the disengagement procedure will be moved out of the province.

The coalition will, meanwhile, continue to offer support to security units so that they can maintain their role in keeping order and stability and also fight terrorist groups.

The official Saudi news agency quoted a coalition official as saying that all preparations had already been made to speed up the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement.

He added that military observers would oversee the disengagement of troops in Abyan.

The same troops, he added, would be moved outside the southern city.

“The new Yemeni government will be declared as soon as consultations on its formation come to an end,” the source said.

Secretary-General of the Gulf Co-operation Council Nayef Al- Hajraf praised Saudi Arabia for completing arrangements for implementing the Riyadh agreement.