Sanaa, Yemen (CNN)Shiite rebels took responsibility Saturday for the abduction of the Yemeni President's chief of staff in downtown Sanaa. Ahmed bin Mubarak, top aide to President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, was abducted by gunmen Saturday morning, security officials said. Houthi rebels "were forced to seize Mubarak and this was an important step to cut the way of any coup attempt on the peace and transition deal," said a statement by the rebels' political faction, Ansarullah. Hadi appointed bin Mubarak premier back in October, but the rebels rejected the nomination. A senior media adviser to the Houthi movement in Yemen, Osama Sari, told CNN that the presidential chief of staff had been detained by the Houthis as a message to the President.
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Houthi rebels say abduction sends a message to Yemeni President
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President seeks a new constitution without the approval of the Houthis, rebels say
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"This is force for political gain, a ridiculous show of muscle flexing," Yemen official says
In September, @placeholder signed a ceasefire deal with the government.