Yemen’s Hadi works to stamp authority

Aden

Yemen's President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi worked to restore his authority after returning from six months of exile with a vow to liberate the country from Shia Huthi rebels.

Hadi's first act was to chair a meeting of cabinet members already back in the southern port city of Aden, which had been the embattled leader's last refuge before he fled to Saudi Arabia in March.

He instructed the ministers to focus on basic services such as water, electricity, housing, healthcare and security for ordinary Yemenis in the impoverished and war-battered country.

On the security front, the 70-year-old president stressed the need to integrate members of the Popular Resistance pro-government militia into the regular army, the government-run Saba news agency reported.

Under the cover of Saudi-led coalition air strikes, loyalists have battled the Huthis alongside the Popular Resistance volunteer force, southern separatists, Islamist militants and Sunni tribes, in a makeshift alliance.

Hadi, who is recognised by the international community, flew in late Tuesday aboard a Saudi military aircraft that landed at an airbase adjoining the civilian airport in Aden.

The president promised the Yemeni people that the Huthis, who hailed from the mountainous north, would be driven from the capital Sanaa.

"The return to the capital Sanaa will come soon after the liberation of all cities and provinces," from the hands of militias, he said in a statement.

The presidency said Hadi would remain in Aden for a few days before heading to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, which runs until October 6.