Ceasefire With Rebels Announced

On 11 February 2010 President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced a ceasefire with Shiite Houthi rebels in northern Yemen. Abdullah stated that Yemeni military operations would stop beginning at midnight local time (2100 UTC on 11 February). The rebels accepted the government's six demands, which include withdrawing from Saudi territory and dismantling roadblocks. The leader of the rebels has instructed all fighters to cease attacks, though militants reportedly ambushed a vehicle carrying a top-ranking general in the Iqab district of Saada province on 12 February. As part of the terms of the truce, the rebels will get to appoint Houthi representatives to sit on a committee that will monitor the ceasefire.