The United States Thursday strongly condemned violence that occurred in Amran over the past week that has killed members of the Yemeni military and innocent civilians. In a statement, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki offered U.S. condolences to the victims and their families. "We call on the Houthis to immediately stop all armed activity and halt their advance towards Sana'a," Psaki said. "We also call on all parties to refrain from engaging in any military activity of an offensive or retaliatory nature. Further, we call on all factions to refrain from political demonstrations that will only serve to further inflame an already-tense situation." "We commend and support the Government of Yemen's efforts to stop the armed conflict and to negotiate a peaceful reconciliation among all parties. We urge all parties to respect the sovereignty of the Yemeni government and recognize its authority in political and security matters," Psaki said. "We commend President Hadi for his unwavering commitment to implementing the National Dialogue Conference outcomes, and call on the Houthis and all parties to disarm and to participate peacefully in the transition process that seeks to address past grievances and to build an inclusive system of governance that will ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for all Yemeni people," Psaki said.
