Yemen meeting called off amid security scare

The Houthis seized control of the country in a widely-denounced coup in early February [AP]

A top level meeting of Yemeni officials to discuss the country's political crisis has been called off because of security concerns, Al Jazeera has learnt.

The meeting of lawmakers from the dissolved parliament and politicians was expected to take place in Aden, but was postponed after explosive devices were found at the the location, a senior official told Al Jazeera.

The gathering was to be held to unify efforts against the Houthi rebels and the coup carried out by them.

An official told Al Jazeera that southern separatists were against the meeting and threatened to attack it.  

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is due to adopt a resolution on Sunday urging the Shia rebels to step down, release government officials and negotiate, diplomats said.

The draft resolution demands the rebels to "immediately and unconditionally'' withdraw forces from government institutions, release President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his cabinet from house arrest, and engage "in good faith'' in UN-led peace talks.

Alarmed and worried that Shia powerhouse Iran is backing the rebels, the largely Sunni Muslim states of the council have demanded a resolution that condemns the Houthis and acts under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, meaning it can be militarily enforced.

The draft emerged just two days after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the council that Yemen was "collapsing before our eyes". Jordan and Britain quickly began working on a draft resolution.

At least nine countries, including the United States, have closed their embassies in Yemen in the past few days

 ALJAZERA