Yemen's Shia Houthi rebel movement has announced it is taking over the government and dissolving parliament.
In a televised statement, the group said a five-member council would act as the president for an interim period.
The group took control of the capital Sanaa in September, forcing the resignation of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in January.
The announcement comes after the failure of UN-brokered peace talks.
The Houthis set a Wednesday deadline for political parties to reach an agreement on ending the country's political turmoil, threatening to act unilaterally otherwise.
Political, military and tribal figures were at the Presidential Palace for the announcement.
But powerful Sunni and southern political parties have not recognised the takeover by the Houthis, who are minority Shia from the north.
Iran has been accused of giving financial and military support to the Houthis - something both have denied.
Yemen has been riven by instability since protesters inspired by the Arab Spring forced the overthrow of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2011.
The country is also fighting an al-Qaeda insurgency with the help of US drones.
