The Yemeni government warned Sunday from the repercussions of a campaign of arrests and kidnappings launched by Houthi militias in areas falling under their control, where they use prisoners as bargaining chips.

Yemeni Information Minister Muammar al-Eryani called on the United Nations to exert pressure on the Houthis to stop their campaigns, which he described as a threat to the ongoing negotiations between the legitimacy and the militias on a prisoner swap.

“Houthis launched new campaigns of arrest, targeting civil servants, officers at the Interior and Defense ministries, in addition to officials and members of the General People's Congress party,” Eryani was quoted as saying by the official Saba news agency.

He said their measures coincided with talks held in Jordan between representatives from the legitimate government and militias to implement the prisoner swap deal.

The Information Minister said Houthis continue to prove that they are not serious in implementing the prisoner exchange deal reached between the two sides last week.

The legitimate government and the Iran-backed militias struck the agreement on the swap, that should finally lead to the release of all prisoners from both sides.

Eryani urged the UN to exert pressure on the Houthis to stop arresting civilians for later use in a swap with armed rebels.

Ten days ago, Houthis admitted launching an arrest campaign in Sanaa and the provinces of Hajjah, Amran, Mahweet, Dhamar, Bayda, Taiz and Ibb.

Human rights activists in Sanaa told Asharq Al-Awsat that Houthis kidnapped more than 5,000 citizens in 2019. The hostages were moved to secret Houthi prisons.