Yemen coup averted

Yemen Prime Minister Mohammed Basindwa resigned on Sept. 22 as part of a UN-brokered peace deal to end hostilities between Shia Houthi rebels and pro-government forces in the capital city of Sana’a. More than 200 people had died in clashes since Sept. 10, when Yemeni forces killed seven Houthi protesters outside the cabinet building. 

On Sept. 21, Houthi rebels captured government buildings in Sana’a and demanded a change in government, leading to the UN deal that required the rebels to give up control of the captured sections of Sana’a in exchange for allowing them to name a new prime minister and form a new coalition government.

The US Department of State urges deferring travel to Yemen, due to civil unrest as well as terrorist activities.