UN envoy back in Yemen as crisis deepens

The U.N. envoy to Yemen has returned to Sanaa and resumed contacts with political players to find a way out of a deepening crisis caused by a Shiite rebel takeover.[caption id="attachment_1517637" align="alignleft" width="380"] Yemeni soldiers ride a tank after taking hold of a major Al-Qaeda stronghold Azzan, Yemen. AFP[/caption]Jamal Benomar had left suddenly for Saudi Arabia last week, where he is believed to have held consultations with visiting U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He returned to Sanaa late Saturday and held meetings with all the main political factions.The Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, are under mounting pressure following their decision to dissolve parliament, which cemented their takeover less than five months after they seized the capital.A powerful alliance of six Arab nations led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has denounced the Houthis' "coup." AP