CAIRO — Yemen's foreign minister says his government is not negotiating with Shiite rebels who captured the capital, Sanaa, last September. Riad Yassin tells reporters in Cairo on Thursday that the only solution is for the rebels, known as Houthis, to withdraw, surrender their weapons and give the government full control of Yemen. Referring to reports of envoys meeting in the Gulf nation of Oman, Yassin says they were “consultations” between UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and the Houthis to convince them to withdraw. He says: “That is the only solution that is on the table.” Houthi rebels and troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh are fighting forces including southern separatists, local and tribal militias, Sunni militants and troops loyal to President Abedrabbu Mansour Hadi. — AP
