Shiite Houthi rebels have shelled the residence of the country’s president and also swept into the presidential palace in the capital, according to the country’s information minister.

YEMEN President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed a Gulf initiative last night to hand over power to his deputy as part of a proposal to end months of protests that have pushed the Arab country to the brink of civil war.

Yemen’s embattled president must speed up reforms and begin a transfer of power according to a plan backed by the international community, a UN envoy said.

The UN General Assembly reached an “informal agreement” to establish a single UN body with greater clout to promote equality for women.