The U.N. Security Council has imposed sanctions on Yemen's former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, and two Shiite Muslim leaders for threatening Yemeni peace and stability.
The U.S.-sponsored sanctions include a worldwide travel ban and a freezing of foreign assets.
The council agreed that Saleh had worked with the Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, in undermining efforts by the new president, Rabbu Mansour Hadi, to establish stability and democracy.
A U.S. official who asked not to be named said the sanctions made it clear that the international community will not tolerate efforts to use violence to thwart the aspirations of the Yemeni people.
Yemen has been in political upheaval since the former president was forced to step down in 2011.
Earlier Friday, Yemen announced the formation of a new Cabinet, a key demand of the Houthis, who threatened a revolution if no government was named.
Yemen's political factions signed a deal last week asking Hadi and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah to put together a politically neutral government committed to human rights.
Houthis had given Hadi an ultimatum to form a new government by next week or face what they called "all revolutionary options."
The new Cabinet includes General Mahmoud al-Subaihi, who is known for fighting al-Qaida, as defense minister, and veteran diplomat Abdullah al-Saaidi as foreign minister.
