Jeddah, Aug. 9 (BNA): UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad said “Yemen’s peace talks hosted by Kuwait didn’t fail”, stressing that he is seeking to make the talks a way for a comprehensive solution to the crisis.
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The Yemeni government move came as UN-sponsored peace negotiations in Kuwait ended without an agreement after almost three months of talks, paving the way for fresh fighting.
“We will be leaving Kuwait today but the Yemeni peace talks are continuing”, Ould Cheikh Ahmed told reporters in Kuwait City.
The conflict in Yemen pits the internationally-recognized government of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his allies, backed by the Saudi-led coalition of Arab states, against Shiite rebels known as Houthis who overran and captured Sanaa in September 2014.
UN-sponsored talks for establishing peace in Yemen have ended without a breakthrough, as fighting continues between government forces and rebels near the capital Sanaa.
Hours before Ould Cheikh Ahmed announced he was suspending the talks, the rebels named the 10 members to sit on the governing council, a move that also strengthens their control of Sanaa.
The pro-Hadi sabanew.net news agency said that the Yemeni army and allied local tribesmen, backed by Arab coalition air strikes, began a major operation to “liberate the district of Nehem east of Sanaa”.
He added: “They have no option but to comply with the worldwide legitimacy and the UNSC Resolution 2216 and the GCC initiative”, he said, pointing out that the coalition is coordinating with the United Nations to take important steps to protect Yemeni civilians.
The insurgents said the plan did not meet their key demand for a unity government – a condition that amounts to an explicit call for Hadi’s removal.
The bombing of the factory – located in western Sanaa – is one of series of airstrikes that rocked the capital and at least five other provinces, presumably targeting suspected rebel positions such as barracks housing Houthis and their allies, ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s forces.
On Sunday, the Yemeni government announced that its peace delegation agreed to sign a UN-proposed agreement in a bid to bring security and stability to the war-torn country.
Saudi Arabia has fought hard against criticisms of its attacks in Yemen and earlier this year allegedly pressured the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon, to remove the coalition from a blacklist of groups that kill children during war.
Riyadh-The legitimate government in Yemen will not allow Houthis to expand an inch, said Saudi-led coalition spokesman Maj.
Supporters of the Saudi coalition, tweeting with the hashtag #LiberationOfSanaa (#تحرير_صنعاء), praised the Saudi-led forces.
Leading human rights groups have accused both the coalition and Houthi rebels of war crimes.
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There were also reports of fighting around the northern province of Al-Jouf.
