GCC condemns Houthis' violations in Yemen

Information Ministers of members of the Cooperation Council for Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), on Thursday denounced human rights violations committed by the rebel Houthi militias and forces loyal to now-ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh in Yemen.

The GCC ministers also condemned as war crimes the Houthi-Saleh militia's deliberate blocking of humanitarian aid from reaching besieged Yemeni areas, targeting civilians, bombing residential areas and medical centres, using internationally banned mines in Yemen and continuing the unjust siege of Taiz city. They said these acts are violation of International Law and contradict human, Islamic and Arab values.

The GCC condemnation came in the final communique of an extraordinary meeting chaired by Saudi Minister of Culture and Information, Dr. Adel l Toraifi, at the Riyadh Airbase in Saudi Arabia in the presence of Secretary-General of the GCC, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.

 Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Director of National Media Council (NMC) represented the UAE at the meeting.

They also denounced attempts by the Houthi-Slaeh militias to block UN-brokered peace talks overseen by the UN special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, to restore security, peace and stability to Yemen based on UN Security Council Resolution 2216, the outcome of Yemen's National Dialogue Conference and the GCC Initiative for Yemen.

 In the communique, the GCC ministers agreed to boost coordination and a shared media discourse and said the meeting was held amid the current fast-paced regional developments making it inevitable for the Gulf states to implement media plans to support the GCC's political action.

They stressed that media agencies in the GCC members should shoulder their responsibility in exposing all the crimes being committed by the Houthi-Saleh militias and showing them to the Arab and international public opinion.

 The ministers also discussed topics like strengthening joint action in the GCC media sector to promote the bloc's common identity and relations and bolster the region's security and stability.  

They said the Houthi-Saleh militants continue to block humanitarian food aid and medical supplies sent by the GCC members' humanitarian agencies from reaching the long-civilian Yemenis.

These agencies include Saudi Arabia's King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Works, The UAE's Emirates Red Crescent and Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, Bahrain's Royal Charity Organisation, Oman Charitable Organisation, Qatar Red Crescent Society, Qatar Charity, Eid bin Mohammad Al Thani Charitable Association, the Sheikh Thani Ibn Abdullah for Humanitarian Services (RAF) and Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society.

The GCC ministers' communique expressed support of the Saudi-led coalition's efforts to restore legitimacy in Yemen  and back the internationally-recognised government of President

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