Yemen's new presidential council is under strain over clashes between nominal allies in oil-rich Shabwa this week, imperilling Saudi Arabia's efforts to strengthen an anti-Houthi coalition and potentially complicating international peace efforts.
The fighting in the south between forces of rival factions in the Political Leadership Council (PLC), formed in April, led member Abdullah al-Alimi to quit, but he was persuaded to rescind his decision to stabilise the PLC, a source close to Alimi said.
Local media had also reported Alimi's resignation late on Wednesday because of three days of clashes in Shabwa's Ataq between forces of the Giants Brigade, backed by the United Arab Emirates, and those of the Islah Party, to which Alimi belongs.
