UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. Security Council imposed sanctions on Yemen's former president and two military commanders of the powerful Shiite Houthi rebels late Friday for threatening the peace, security and stability of the country.
The council ordered a freeze of all assets and a global travel ban on former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has allied with the Houthis, and rebel military leaders Abd al-Khaliq al-Huthi and Abdullah Yahya al Hakim.
Approval by all 15 council members is required to impose sanctions.
Lithuania's U.N. Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaite, who chairs the Yemen sanctions committee, tweeted that there were no objections by the 5 p.m. EST deadline Friday.
Last month, the Security Council condemned the growing number of al-Qaida linked terrorist attacks, expressed deep concern at the Houthi takeover of the capital Sanaa, and urged the government to expedite reforms.
The council said it was prepared to sanction "spoilers" blocking implementation of a transitional roadmap to peace and democracy adopted after a national dialogue. Soon after, the United States proposed the three names.