The Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the delegation to the talks, Abdulmalik Al-Mekhlafi, told reporters: “The government delegation has chose to leave Kuwait after signing a draft peace plan proposed by the United Nations”.
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One pre-condition, however, is that the Iran-backed Huthis and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh sign the deal by August 7, Mikhlafi wrote on Twitter.
But the rebels insist on forming a national unity government to oversee the transition.
“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 worldwide diplomats, he said.
“We will return any minute … if the other side agrees to sign” the United Nations proposal, which was accepted by the government but rejected by the rebels, Mikhlafi told reporters at Kuwait Airport.
Saudi Arabia attacked Yemen previous year in an attempt to install the former Hadi government back in power.
Last March, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a massive military campaign in Yemen aimed at reversing Houthi gains and restoring Hadi’s embattled government.
A United Nations spokesman in Kuwait, however, said Cheikh Ahmed was scheduled to meet with the rebels later Friday and with ambassadors of the 18 countries backing the peace process in Yemen.
Under the new plan, a political dialogue between various Yemeni factions would start 45 days after the rebels withdraw and hand over heavy weapons to a military committee to be formed by Hadi.
Needless to say, this lack of compromise is making it hard to see what the next week of talks is going to settle. The Houthis say Saudi-led air strikes have devastated Yemen and blame them for most civilian deaths.
Abdel Salam said: ‘This extension should be based on outlining a comprehensive accord that includes political, humanitarian, economic, and security aspects for both parties.’ Moreover, they demanded sharing executive power, including the presidency and the government.
The Houthis said they would stay in Kuwait for further talks but dismissed the proposal as a non-starter, according to a report by Reuters.
Also in Aden, a auto bomb apparently intending to hit a military convoy belonging to UAE forces in the city went off but missed its target.
Hadi’s government has used the main southern city, Aden, as a temporary capital since it was recaptured from the Huthis a year ago.
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Al Qaeda and ISIL have exploited the turmoil of Yemen’s war to expand their operations in the country.
