UN chief slams deadly terrorist attacks in Yemen

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United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on two mosques in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and called on "all Yemeni sides to immediately cease all hostile actions and exercise maximum restraint."

"The secretary-general strongly condemns the terrorist attacks on two mosques during Friday prayers in Sanaa, as well as on a government building and mosque in Sadah, which have killed and wounded dozens of people," Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing. "He deplores the killing of civilians and extends his condolences to the families of the victims."

While calling on all Yemeni sides to immediately cease all hostile actions and exercise maximum restraint, Ban demanded all sides abide by their stated commitments to resolve differences by peaceful means, and engage in good faith in the ongoing UN-facilitated negotiations in order to reach consensus in accordance with the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and Implementation Mechanism, outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference and the Peace and National Partnership Agreement.

Ban also reminded all Yemeni parties of their obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions.

"The secretary-general urges all to remain fully engaged with his special adviser on Yemen so as to enable him to continue to exercise the secretary-general's good offices in close cooperation with the members of the GCC and the Security Council," said Haq.

Also, the UN Security Council condemned the same day in a statement the airstrikes against the Presidential Palace in Aden, Yemen's second biggest city, and attacks at Aden International Airport.

The members of the Security Council underlined that President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi is the legitimate authority based on election results, the statement said, calling for all parties in Yemen to reject acts of violence to achieve political goals, and refrain from provocation and all unilateral actions that undermine the political transition.

Four suicide bombers attacked two mosques in Sanaa during Friday prayers, killing at least 137 people, and injuring 350.

REUTERS