Yemen minister: Kidnapped aide still held by rebels in breach of peace deal

The Houthi rebelsShiite Muslims who have long felt marginalized in the majority Sunni countrykidnapped presidential Chief of Staff Ahmed bin Mubarak in the capital, Sanaa, on Saturday. The rebels then took over the presidential palace Tuesday, prompting talk of a coup.

The chaos in Yemen is cause for concern far beyond the country’s borders. For the United States and its allies, Yemen’s government has been a key ally in the fight against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Yemen-based group linked to attacks such as the recent slaughter at French magazine Charlie Hebdo.

The tentative deal reached Wednesday called for bin Mubarak’s release, as well as measures to give the Houthis more political power, according to a Yemeni official with access to a draft text of the agreement.

But Sakkaf questioned Thursday whether the rebels would live up to their side of the pact.

This isn’t the first time the rebels and the government have hammered out an agreement.

Houthis swept into the capital last year, sparking battles that left more than 300 people dead in a month. In September, they signed a ceasefire deal with the government, and Houthis have since installed themselves in key positions in the government and financial institutions.

CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh reported from Sanaa and Laura Smith-Spark wrote from London. CNN’s Catherine E. Shoichet, Mohammed Tawfeeq and Salim Essaid contributed to this report.

CNN