Houthi chief Abdulmalek Al-Houthi accused Yemeni officials of using a reconciliation deal between both sides to achieve "personal gains," just hours after the rebel movement seized control of the presidential palace.
"Authorities conspired over the results of the national dialogue," he said in a televised speech on Tuesday. "Political powers in a decision-making position sought to overthrow the Peace and National Partnership Agreement (signed in September, 2014)." He accused Sanaa officials of "falling deep into corruption and tyranny," and conspiring with "foreign parties" for the downfall of the country.
The country has begun to sink downwards across all spectrums, he suggested, prompting the "Yemeni people, in all of their sects, to move forward amid a huge revolution calling for their legitimate demands." The agreement, he said, which gained international recognition including a nod from Saudi Arabia was on the verge of being implemented, however, "the powers of corruption returned once again to their work applying past methods which are against the interests of the people." He suggested that President Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi was "not serious" in his implementation of the accord, calling on the government to carry out the deal "according to a precise timeframe." After Houthis gained control of most state institutions in the country, including the presidential palace, the senior member said this would have not happened had the president handled the affair more seriously.
"But decision-makers moved in an opposite direction," he said. "Authorities took the country to the situation it is in now of poverty and despair, and the president himslef sought to protect the corruption." He also accused authorities of conspiring with Al-Qaeda to counter the Houthis.
The presidential palace was seized by the armed Houthi wing, Ansar Allah, after some of the fiercest fighting witnessed in years between both sides, which led to the death of nine and injury of around 90.
The rebels, who have been controlling the capital Sanaa since September 21, 2014, are demanding that senior presidential aides, whom they hold in contempt, be replaced by people loyal to their cause.