ADEN: Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has appointed four Ministers, including a war-worn veteran who will head the Saudi-backed Yemeni government's Defence Ministry.

According to a statement issued by the state-run Saba news agency on Thursday, Mohsen Mohammed Hussein al-Daeri, who has directed several military operations against the Houthi rebel militia in the nation's northern provinces and who was hurt during the rebels' protracted offensive against the oil-rich province of Marib, will serve as the Defense Ministry's director.

The  PLC also chooses Salim Mohammed as Minister of Public Works, Manea Saleh as Minister of Electricity, and Said Suliman Barakat al-Shamasi as Minister of Oil. The PLC is currently based in the port city of Aden in southern Yemen.

Since the Houthi militia, which is backed by Iran, took over several northern provinces and drove the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa in late 2014, Yemen has been embroiled in civil conflict. The war has caused 4 million people to be displaced, killed thousands of people, and brought the impoverished Arab nation to the verge of starvation.

Lieutenant-General Mohsen al-Daeri, from the south, was named defence minister, and Said al-Shamasi, from the north, was named energy minister, according to a statement from council head Rashad Al-Alimi. He appointed new ministers for the public works and power sectors as well.

The Houthis mostly rule the north and most major population centres, while the government is situated in the south.

The action is being taken as the UN urges the warring sides to prolong a cease-fire that expires on August 2. It is also pushing for measures to stabilise the economy and launch inclusive political negotiations to end the seven-year war.

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