Yemen’s President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi has ceded power to a new leadership council which will negotiate a political solution to end the country’s years-long conflict. Hadi created an “irrevocable” mandate for the council to take over all his powers, according to a presidential declaration carried by the Yemeni state news agency Saba reported Thursday. The council will take over his political, military and security responsibilities during an unspecified transitional period. It will also negotiate with Yemen’s Houthi rebels for a permanent nationwide ceasefire and a “final and comprehensive” po…