(VOVworld) - Yemen’s main political factions, including the Houthi rebels, have signed an agreement mandating the president and prime minister to form a new government in an effort to defuse political tensions that have crippled the country.

Mass Protests erupted in June after the government announced a sharp rise in fuel prices (Photo: Getty Images)

The agreement’s signing was witnessed by UN special envoy Jamal Benomar. Prime Minister Khaled Bahah will head the selection of the new ministers with consultation from President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, according to a statement emailed from the 13 political parties. Under the agreement, parties that do not have representatives in the president's advisory body will be allowed to nominate candidates for the different ministries, following that the prime minister will choose the more competent candidates for each posting. The time when the new government is formed has not been known.