U.N. human rights chief demands release of 13 staff detained by Houthi rebels

Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The United Nations renewed demands Tuesday for the release of 13 of its employees who have been held by Houthi rebels in Yemen for two months on what its says are trumped-up spying charges.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk strongly condemned the storming of the UNHCR's office in Sana'a by the Ansar Allah de facto authorities on June 6 and 7 and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all U.N. staff detained in Yemen.

"Entering a U.N. office without permission and seizing documents and property by force are wholly inconsistent with the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. This is also a serious attack on the ability of the U.N. to perform its mandate, including with respect to the promotion and protection of human rights, which my office is there to defend," Turk said in a news release.