The United Kingdom called on Houthi and Saleh militias to release all those unlawfully detained, including the Yemeni Defence Minister, Mahmoud al Subaihi, and for the human rights of all Yemenis to be respected. "In addition, we should all be worried by the continuing arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances of NGO workers, activists, protestors and journalists. These repressive measures by the Houthis are not only closing down the democratic space, they are also denying Yeminis the fundamental rights to which we are all entitled," Ambassador Matthew Rycroft of the UK Mission to the UN said in a statement at the UN Security Council briefing on Yemen. "The UN facilitated talks remain the best way to resolve the current crisis in an inclusive manner," he added. "Without a ceasefire, all other efforts to improve the situation in Yemen – whether human rights, or humanitarian or political – they are all put in jeopardy. So I call on all sides to respect the ceasefire and fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law."
