UN Demands that Yemen's Houthis Free Detained Staffers

Tourists walk past the United Nations Headquarters in New York, March 24, 2008. At left is the UN General Assembly building and at right is the UN Secretariat building

The United Nations on Wednesday demanded the release of two UN staffers detained earlier this month by Yemen’s Houthi militias.

“UN staff should not be arbitrarily detained,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

He said the UN staffers work for the UN human rights office and UNESCO, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and were detained on Nov. 5 and Nov. 7.

Dujarric said UN officials have not been able to contact the men.