UN Security Council calls for full, lasting ceasefire in Yemen

The Council also welcomed the completion of a draft constitution, looked forward to the start of the public consultation on the draft, and called for all parties to rapidly engage in finalizing the constitution "in a constructive manner."

Despite the formation of a new government on Nov 7 aimed at ending a period of political turbulence and bringing about a full transition towards democracy, Yemen continues to be plagued by violence and mass demonstrations.

The Shiite Houthi group seized on Tuesday the presidential palace one day after it signed a ceasefire deal with the Yemeni government that ended deadly clashes.

Monday's clashes were triggered by the kidnapping of the director of the president office, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, by the Houthis, in a wrangle over the country's draft constitution.

According to the draft constitution, Yemen will be divided into six federal regions. However, the Houthi group demands that the country be divided into only two regions.