Speaking yesterday at a news conference at Kuwait International Airport, Al-Mekhlafi said the government’s delegation would return to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, after signing the draft arrangement forwarded by the United Nations (UN) to resolve the Yemeni crisis, according to Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
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The withdrawal announcement came two days after Houthi leaders backing former President Ali Abdullah Saleh said they were forming a coalition administration, in a widely viewed attempt to legitimize Houthi rule.
The coalition launched a military campaign against Yemen’s Shiite rebels in March previous year after the insurgents advanced on President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi’s refuge in Aden.
However, the rebel delegation still welcomed United Nations envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed’s proposal to extend the talks for another week.
“We agreed with the parties to keep the talks ongoing until we agree on next steps in the coming days which shall be dedicated to intensive meetings” with the government’s foes as well as global diplomats, he said.
“What was presented by the [UN] envoy was no more than just ideas for a solution to the security aspect, subject to debate like other proposals”, said a Sunday statement by the delegation representing Houthis and their allies in ongoing peace talks in Kuwait.
He said he will hold intensive talks with the Huthis and their allies.
In the southern port city of Aden, a pro-government militia leader was killed and three of his guards were wounded when a bomb planted in their auto was remotely detonated, security officials said.
The UN Yemen envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said Houthis should refrain from further unilateral actions that could undermine the political transition in Yemen.
The Houthi rebels captured Sanaa in September 2014 and expanded their control to other parts of Yemen, advancing on Hadi’s temporary headquarters in the the southern city of Aden and forcing him to flee to Saudi Arabia.
Ould Cheikh Ahmed, however, did not say if the rebels’ move would result in the suspension of the peace talks.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting the Yemeni government in its fight against Iran-backed rebels since March previous year.
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It said in a statement that dozens of Houthi fighters were killed near the border strip and their military vehicles destroyed by coalition aircraft that repelled their assault.
