Yemen's Houthis dissolve parliament, take over power

New assembly will elect a five-member interim presidential council to manage the country's affairs

SANAA: Yemen's dominant Houthi movement on Friday dissolved the parliament and said a new interim assembly would be formed which will elect a five-member interim presidential council to manage the country's affairs, according to a televised statement.

In a "constitutional declaration", the Huthi militia also said it would set up a national council of 551 members to replace parliament following months of turmoil.

On Sunday, the Huthis set a three-day deadline for the parties to resolve the power vacuum, and warned that failure by the political parties to do so would prompt it and its allies to decide the future course of events.

Yemen has been in political limbo since President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the government of Prime Minister Khaled Bahah resigned after the Houthis seized the presidential palace and confined the head of state to his residence in a struggle to tighten control.