Houthis, Yemen's president reach deal to end standoff


Yemen's state news agency is reporting that the country's embattled president has reached an agreement with Shiite rebels to end a violent standoff in the capital.The SABA news agency said the agreement late Wednesday called for the armed Houthi rebels to pull out from around President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's home and the presidential palace, which they besieged Tuesday. SABA said the deal also calls for them to release a top aide to Hadi they had kidnapped in recent days.SABA said the agreement also included a clause that would answer the rebels' demands to amend the constitution and expand their representation in the parliament and in state institutions.Aides to Hadi said earlier Wednesday that he was "captive" in his home.