( CNN ) Houthi rebels , who deposed Yemen 's government by force , have come to a preliminary agreement for a new government , showing willingness to negotiate , a U.N. official said Friday . It 's a breakthrough , said envoy Jamal Benomar . But it 's not a final deal . Parties to the negotiations are hopeful it will prevent a civil war . It represents a shift of the Houthis ' tone from just a month ago , when they stormed the capital Sanaa with guns blazing . After a years-long conflict with the government , the rebels attacked the residences of President Abdurabu Hadi and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah last month . When the two refused to concede the Houthis ' political demands , the rebels , who are Shiites in a majority Sunni nation , forced them to resign . The offensive and takeover stunned governments in the West , who , along with other countries , pulled out diplomatic staff . Houthi fighters took U.S. Embassy vehicles and would not let departing Marines take their weapons with them . But Western governments have other worries as well . Yemen 's former government was allied with the United States and other Western and Middle Eastern powers in the fight against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula -- who are Sunni Islamist extremists . There has been little sign so far of how willing to negotiate the Shia Zaidi Houthis , who are supported by Iran and who have been secessionists , might be . The U.N. envoy is helping broker the preliminary agreement between Houthi leaders and the independent , relatively new Justice and Building Party . The Houthis applied pressure to get results , threatening to escalate violence , if no deal were reached , said Justice and Building Party spokesman Baligh al-Mikhlafi . `` This deal is not perfect , but it ensures that Yemen does not collapse , '' he said . The agreement outlines only rough points . `` There are still a number of issues on the dialogue table that must be agreed on dealing with the government and presidency as well guarantees for the implementation of the deal , '' Benomar said . Yemen 's legislative body , the National Congress , will get a second chamber -- a brand new parliament . The Houthis , who live in Yemen 's north , will get 50 % of the seats and concede 50 % to the country 's south . Half of seats will go to the country 's women and youths , Benomar said . The current House of Representatives will remain as it is for now . The U.N. had called for Houthi fighters to withdraw from government institutions it had captured . Whatever the military concessions , the agreement allows Houthi gunmen to remain in Sanaa .
Houthi rebels depose Yemen 's president in an attack in January . Parties to the negotiations hope the agreement will end civil war .