JEDDAH — Subversive acts of the Houthi rebels and elements and militia of General People's Congress of the ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh are making a peaceful resolution of the Yemen crisis more difficult, the Council of Ministers has reiterated. The Cabinet meeting here on Monday, presided over by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, said the disruptive tactics by the Houthis and the GPC of Saleh are further pushing the country into an abyss through which it is becoming increasingly difficult to nurture any peace hopes. Dr. Adel Bin Zeid Al-Turaifi, minister of Culture and Information, said the Cabinet in this regard referred to the statement of 18 Ambassadors Group on Yemen issued this week terming the unconstitutional and unilateral actions of the Houthis and the GPC as inimical to the quest for peace. The meeting of the ambassadors had also renewed a call to adhere to the references of the peaceful solution represented by the initiative of Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab states and its executive mechanisms, the decisions of the National Dialogue Conference and relevant United Nations resolutions. In other decisions, the Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist bombing that targeted a wedding party in Turkey which resulted in killing of dozens of people including children. The Cabinet offered condolences to the Turkish government, the Turkish people and families of the victims. The Kingdom stands by Turkey in confronting terrorism, it said. On the Mideast issue, Al-Turaifi said the Cabinet condemned the serious escalation and repeated racist attacks being carried out by Israeli occupation forces and groups of extremist settlers on Al-Aqsa Mosque, stressing that these attacks and policies immeasurably hurt the sentiments of the Muslims. The Cabinet called on the United Nations Security Council to move quickly to put an end to all Israeli violations and systematic crimes against Palestinians. On domestic issues, the Cabinet appreciated the policies initiated by the country's leadership ensuring full care of the pilgrims and development of the holy sites. The Cabinet also approved the formation of General Commission for Small and Medium Enterprises, under the chairmanship of the minister of commerce and investment. The Cabinet also named 15-member board of directors of the commission. Also, the Cabinet approved the appointment of a four-member board of directors of Saudi Industrial Development Fund, with a three-year tenure.
