Houthis threaten to charge uncooperative Yemen ministers with 'treason'

Yemen's Shiite Houthi militia has reportedly threatened to charge "uncooperative" government ministers with "treason."

"The Houthi revolutionary committee has threatened to refer uncooperative ministers to prosecutors on charges of treason," the pro-Houthi Al-Massira television channel reported.

The Houthis seized control of capital Sanaa last September and have since sought to expand their influence to other parts of the country.

Earlier this month, the Houthis issued a "constitutional declaration" dissolving Yemen's parliament and establishing a 551-member transitional council.

The declaration was rejected by most of Yemen's political forces – along with some neighbouring countries – which described it as a "coup against constitutional legitimacy."

Meanwhile, Houthi militants on Monday prevented Foreign Minister Abdullah al-Sayadi from receiving visitors in his Sanaa residence, a source close to the minister has said.

"Houthis barred Minister al-Sayadi – who is currently under house arrest – from receiving any visitors in his home," the source, requesting anonymity, told the Anadolu Agency.

On Saturday, Yemen's resigned Information Minister Nadia al-Saqqaf said on Twitter that – since President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi fled Sanaa to the southern city of Aden – security forces had been deployed near the homes of both al-Sayadi and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah.

Upon his arrival to Aden on Saturday, Hadi declared that all decisions taken by the Houthis since 21 September of last year – when the Shiite group took control of capital Sanaa – were "null" and "illegitimate."

Protester killed by Houthis in Ibb mourned

Meanwhile, thousands of Yemenis on Monday participated in a funeral procession for an activist who was shot dead by Houthi militants two days earlier in the central Ibb province.

Thousands participated in the funeral procession for Nasr al-Shojaa, who was killed on Saturday by Houthi militants who forcibly dispersed a protest in the city of Ibb, eyewitnesses told the Anadolu Agency.

Demonstrators marched through the streets of Ibb city to denounce the presence of Houthi militants in Ibb province, before the slain activists' body was transferred to a nearby village for burial.

Marchers also affirmed their support for the legitimacy of president Hadi, noting that capital Sanaa had been "occupied" by Houthis. Some called for the transfer of the capital to the city of Aden.

On Saturday, a security source told AA that Houthi militants had opened fire on a demonstration in Ibb city, killing one protester and leaving six others wounded.

Demonstrators had hit the streets to condemn what they described as the Houthis' "coup" and demand the departure of Houthi militants from Ibb.

Hadi, who had been under house arrest by the Shiite militant group, fled Sanaa on Saturday to the southern city of Aden.

In the in capital Sanaa, hundreds of Yemenis on Monday also staged an anti-Houthi rally.