Sanaa , Yemen ( CNN ) -- Yemen'shighest military authority Sunday announced its willingness to open channels of dialogue with al Qaeda in hopes of reaching a long-term cease-fire agreement . The military committee was formed as part of the power transfer deal in November . Spokesman Ali Saeed Obaid told CNN that the new Yemeni military leadership is opening its hands and will seek new solutions with al Qaeda fighters . Al Qaeda currently controls large areas in the southern Abyan and Shabwa provinces of Yemen . `` We are offering al Qaeda a chance to be involved in the political decisions in the country through politics , rather than forcing their views with the use of arms , '' Obaid said . Vice President Abdurabu Hadi is chairman of the committee , which is responsible for rebuilding the Yemeni military . `` The committee is hoping that al Qaeda lays down its arms and participates in seeking change democratically , like the millions in Yemen , '' Obaid said , adding that al Qaeda would in return handover all territories under its control to the military and evacuate government posts . Al Qaeda has not yet responded to the offer , the committee said . Yemen 's government is in the midst of a transfer of power in which President Ali Abdullah Saleh , a longtime United States ally in the war on terrorism , has agreed to step down after more than 33 years of rule . Islamist militants seized control of Abyan last May after government positions were suddenly emptied . The province was announced an Islamic emirate a week later , resulting in hundreds of fighters joining their lines . Hundreds of troops and fighters have been killed daily as part of their efforts to rid the province of the fighters . More than 100,000 residents of Abyan evacuated the province when clashes intensified last July . They are currently living in shelters in the neighboring provinces of Aden and Lahj . Last month , a committee formed by Hadi persuaded al Qaeda fighters in Radda , in the nearby province of al-Baitha , to evacuate the area two weeks after they took it over . Suspected al Qaeda fighters left the town after five days of tense negotiations in exchange for the release of three prisoners , Hadi 's office said at the time .
The offer is in hopes of reaching a long - term cease - fire . Al Qaeda currently controls large areas of northern Yemeni provinces . The group has not yet responded to the offer .