Shiite Houthis, Yemen’s President Reach Deal to End Standoff

Shiite Houthis, Yemen’s President Reach Deal to End Standoff
Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, President of Yemen, sits after addressing the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters on Sept. 26, 2012. Two of the Yemeni embattled president’s advisers said that the president is held “captive” in hands of Houthis and warned if submitted resignation in protest to Houthis’ power grab, to face prosecution. AP Photo/Jason DeCrow
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SANAA, Yemen—Shiite rebels holding Yemen’s president captive in his home reached a deal with the U.S.-backed leader Wednesday to end a violent standoff in the capital, the country’s state news agency reported.

The agreement promised to give the rebel Houthi movement more say in the affairs of the Arab world’s poorest country in exchange for the group removing its fighters from President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi’s home, the SABA news agency said.

However, the late-night deal left unanswered who really controls the country and how much power is still held by Hadi, a key ally in U.S. efforts to battle Yemen’s local al-Qaeda branch.