London protesters call for lifting Taiz siege and Houthi terror listing
Demonstrators also urged the UK to back Yemen's government, fund aid and help restore state institutions and the rule of law.
Members of Yemen's community, friends of Yemen and rights advocates in the UK and Ireland demonstrated in London on Sunday, demanding an end to the Houthi siege of Taiz, the news agency of Yemen's internationally recognised government Saba (Government) reported.
The group wants the Houthis to be considered for designation as a terrorist organization under UK law, and it asked the British government and Parliament to take firm action on the issue.
Protesters also called for independent investigations into alleged abuses and for those responsible for human rights violations to be held accountable.
They urged Britain to support Yemen's internationally recognised government, expand humanitarian and development aid, and help rebuild state institutions and the rule of law.
The demonstrators described the hardship faced by residents of Taiz, citing shelling, landmines, limits on movement and restricted access to hospitals, schools, food and medicine.
They also pointed to what they described as violations in other Yemeni governorates, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture, abuse of women and the recruitment of children.
A statement from the event said that reopening the roads to Taiz is about protecting human life, dignity and basic rights, not only about transport.
Participants also thanked Saudi Arabia for its support of the Yemeni government and for its humanitarian and diplomatic work.
Yemen has been torn by civil war since the Houthis seized much of the country in 2014, and a Saudi-led coalition has backed the government since 2015.
Taiz, one of Yemen's largest cities, has been divided by front lines for years, leaving its residents cut off from key services.
