UN Yemen envoy quits as Saudi-led air war enters fourth week

SANAA // The UN envoy to Yemen has resigned after failing to avert large-scale violence, dealing a blow to hopes of a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Shiite rebels and Saudi-backed government forces.

The announcement came as a Saudi-led coalition pressed its air war against the Iran-backed rebels into a fourth week, promising “no half measures” in its campaign to restore president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi.

As UN envoy, Jamal Benomar had tried to avert all-out conflict as the Houthi rebels seized the capital last September and then placed Mr Hadi under effective house arrest in January.

But Mr Hadi’s escape to Aden the following month to rally opposition to the rebels brought negotiations to an end and Mr Benomar’s efforts to revive them came to nothing as the rebels advanced on the president’s last refuge, triggering his flight to Saudi Arabia.

Mr Benomar had lost the confidence of Riyadh and its allies. Last month, a Gulf diplomatic official accused the UN envoy of appeasing the rebels and their allies as they overran Yemen.

* Agence France-Presse

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TWISTERS

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos

Rating: 2.5/5

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Recipe

Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo

Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Method

▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.

▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.

▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.

▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.

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Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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At Eternity’s Gate

Director: Julian Schnabel

Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen

Three stars