ADEN, Yemen, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Four members of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), including the chief of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), on Tuesday rejected what they described as "unilateral and illegal decisions" taken by the council's chairman, warning such moves could further destabilize the country.
Earlier in the day, PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi declared a 90-day nationwide state of emergency, citing the need to safeguard national security and maintain public order. Al-Alimi also cancelled a security pact with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ordered the withdrawal of UAE forces from Yemen within 24 hours.
In a joint statement, the four PLC members said the country's presidential council is a collective authority whose decisions must be made through consensus or majority vote, stressing that unilateral actions on sovereign and security matters "lack legal and constitutional basis."
They also reaffirmed Yemen's commitment to the anti-Houthi coalition, describing the UAE as a "key partner" in confronting the Houthi movement and supporting regional and maritime security.
The statement warned against using state institutions to settle political disputes, calling for a return to partnership, collective leadership and consensus to prevent further political and security deterioration. ■
