The United Nations Security Council votes in favor of a resolution demanding the Houthi militia’s withdrawal from Yemeni government institutions.

Yemen’s Houthi militia was urged by the U.N. Security Council on Sunday to cede power and release President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The 15 members of the council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution drafted by Britain and Jordan to that effect, also urging the Houthis to negotiate with their opponents.

“The Security Council has spoken in one voice and delivered a strong and united message,” British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said, according to Agence France-Presse.

His Jordanian colleague Dina Kawar stressed that “we need to prevent Yemen from sliding into the abyss.”

Earlier on Sunday, the Houthis had made clear their determination to maintain their grip on power, despite intense pressure from the U.N., the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League.

The Arab League has called a meeting of its diplomatic chiefs on Yemen to take place Wednesday.

In its resolution, the council demanded that the Houthis engage in “good faith” in U.N.-brokered negotiations, “withdraw their forces from government institutions” and “relinquish government and security institutions.”

It also demanded that the militia release Hadi, Prime Minister Khaled Bahah and other members of his cabinet currently under house arrest or otherwise “arbitrarily” detained.

All parties must “accelerate inclusive U.N.-brokered negotiations” and set a date for a constitutional referendum and elections, the resolution added.

It raised the possibility of sanctions, without going as far as Gulf countries, which have demanded coercive measures under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter.

A new council resolution would be necessary for sanctions to be applied.

U.N. special envoy Jamal Benomar has said Yemen was “at a crossroad” that could see the country descend into civil war and disintegration.

The militia led by Abdulmalik al-Houthi dissolved Yemen’s government and parliament on February 6 after seizing the presidential palace and key government buildings.

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