Yemeni PM rejects cabinet reshuffle by president: Reports

Yemeni Prime Minister Khaled Bahah rejected a cabinet reshuffle ordered on Tuesday by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Bahah reportedly rejected the reshuffle on the basis that its was "illegitimate", a senior government official told Reuters news agency. 

"A personal announcement will be issued rejecting the ministerial changes because they are illegitimate," the source told Reuters, adding that Hadi had made the changes without consulting Bahah.

Hadi said earlier on Tuesday he was replacing five ministers including the deputy prime minister, ministers of foreign affairs and minister of interior, reported the state-run Saba news agency. 

The reshuffle also included the appointment of acting foreign minister Reyad Yassin Abdulla, according to the decree announced by Hadi.

Hadi returned to the southern city of Aden last month after he was driven into exile in Saudi Arabia by Houthi militants in March.

Vows to 'prevent Iranian interference'

Also on Tuesday, Hadi vowed to continue the "battle toward victory.. enforce law and order, stop Houthis and prevent Iranian interference from achieving its objectives," reported Yemen Online news website.

In a speech commemorating the 48th anniversary of independence from Britain, Hadi said that Yemenis "do not want a state governed by the militias.. nor the rule of families and stories of inheritance".

He called on the UN and the international community to protect the Yemeni population from the Houthis through the enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 2216. 

Hadi ended his speech by thanking Saudi's King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud for his support of the Yemeni people in the current situation.

"From Aden, I send a word of thanks, pride and gratitude on behalf of the Yemeni people to all the truthful free brothers," said Hadi, naming King Salman and other Gulf countries.