UN pushes for truce, humanitarian corridors at Yemen talks

Mediators in UN-brokered talks on Yemen pushed Wednesday for a truce between warring parties as a crucial step to allow aid deliveries, with 24 hours left in the negotiations.

Mediators are seeking a de-escalation of violence in two flashpoint cities: rebel-held Hodeida, a port city vital to the supply of humanitarian aid, and Taiz, Yemen's third largest city, scene of some of the war's most intense fighting.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was due at the talks in Rimbo, Sweden, late Wednesday for Thursday's closing round of consultations.

His arrival comes hours after his office said it had evidence the rebel Huthis were using Iran-made missiles.

Both government and rebel representatives traded accusations of unwillingness to negotiate, particularly on rebel-held Hodeida, the main route for 90 per cent of food imports and nearly 80 per cent of aid deliveries.

Multiple draft proposals have been submitted to the two delegations over the past week.

None have found consensus as yet.

"It's slow progress," rebel representative Abdelmalik al-Ajri told AFP.

"We are faced with the intransigence of the other side.

"Things should become clearer today."
"But the issue today is the airport, the final touches. Today's discussion is around (Sanaa airport), which will be a domestic airport for flights that have been searched during a stop in Aden."