[JURIST] UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged Yemen to reinstate President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Jamal Benomar, the Special Advisor on Yemen, met with leaders [AP report] of the rebel group known as Al Houthis in Sana’a. Six Arab nations, including Saudia Arabia, Egypt and the UAE have criticized the takeover by the Al Houthis. On Thursday Ban also called [UN report] for all parties to overcome differences and help fulfill a democratic transition, stating the Yemeni people want a democratic state and respect for human rights. On Friday the Al Houthis dissolved the Parliament, taking over the government.

In September the Al Houthis took control over the Yemeni Capital, Sana’a. Last month the group detained [BBC report] a presidential advisor and took control of the presidential palace and other government buildings. President Hadi, Prime Minister Khaled Bahah and the entire cabinet then resigned from their positions. All are currently under house arrest. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [official website] expressed concern [JURIST report] last November over alleged human rights violations occurring in Yemen in recent months, which include the killing and arbitrary detention of civilians and the recruitment of children to control armed vehicles and streets used for military purposes.