NEW YORK – The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Feb. 26, authorized sanctions against anyone in Yemen who obstructs the country’s political transition or commits human rights violations but stopped short of blacklisting any specific individuals.

The British-drafted resolution was adopted unanimously. It leaves the imposition of asset freezes and travel bans on specific individuals to a newly created U.N. sanctions committee for Yemen, which will be made up of all 15 council members.

Western diplomats say former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and former Vice President Ali Salim Al-Beidh are top candidates for the U.N. blacklist.

“The council has made clear that we remain firmly committed to supporting Yemen as it implements subsequent steps in the transition process, including constitutional reform and national elections,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power told the council.

“The council has taken the forward-leaning step of setting up a committee that is prepared to sanction individuals for impeding the ongoing transition in Yemen,” she said, adding that the council could now “respond in a timely manner to those who seek to derail progress.”

Britain’s U.N. Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant also welcomed the resolution and told the council that it contained several clear messages, including that the world was determined to support the Yemeni people and their government as they strive to stabilize the country.

Yemen, which has witnessed turmoil and insurgencies led by Islamist fundamentalist and separatist groups, is the next door neighbor of Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter.