Turkish assets of Yemen's former President Saleh frozen

The assets of Yemen's deposed Yemeni president were frozen on Thursday as part of a UN Security Council decision.

Ali Abdullah Saleh is accused of obstructing the country's political transition and the rule of current president, Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Saleh's assets in Turkish financial institutions - including banks and safes - "are frozen until February 26, 2017", announced Turkey's official gazette. The total sum was not released.

Saleh may have between $32 and $60 billion in the form of property, cash, shares and other valuable commodities, UN experts said.

In a report submitted to the UN security council, members of the organisation's sanctions committee said the assets are spread across at least 20 states.

These allegedly come under forged identities or under the names of others who hold assets on his behalf, investigators said.

Sources within the Yemen National Authority for Recovering Stolen Assets had previously told The New Arab that Saleh was believed to have amassed approximately $70 billion in assets during his 33-year-rule as president of Yemen.

Last year, he faced UN-imposed sanctions for being a key figure in rebel operations in war-torn Yemen.

Saleh, who heads Yemen's General People's Congress party, has the support of the armed forces who remained loyal to him after he stepped down from office nearly four years ago.

He emerged as an ally of the Houthi rebels and is set to attend the peace talks held in Kuwait on Thursday.