Yemen rebels grounded in Sanaa as peace talks on hold

Yemen's Huthi rebels, expected at UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva with the government, remained grounded in Sanaa on Friday citing fears they would not be allowed to return home if they left.

The Huthis, powerful armed tribes locked in a war with Yemen's Saudi-backed government, have refused to take off from the rebel-held capital unless the UN meets a list of conditions, which includes securing a safe return from Geneva to Sanaa for their delegation.

The Geneva talks, the first since 2016, had been scheduled to formally open Thursday but were put on hold, although UN envoy Martin Griffiths has held several meetings in the Swiss city with the government delegation.

The Huthis' Supreme Revolutionary Council said Friday they were "increasingly suspicious that the coalition intended to insult" the rebels.

It accused the Saudi-led alliance fighting against them on behalf of the government of planning to strand the rebel delegation in Djibouti, where their plane was to make a stop en route to Geneva.

The Huthis hinted they feared a repeat of 2016, when 108 days of talks in Kuwait broke down and a rebel delegation was stranded in Oman for three months due to an air blockade, the council said in a statement on Telegram.

The Saudi-led military coalition controls the country's airspace and Sanaa international airport has been largely disused for years.

The Iran-backed Huthis have traded accusations of non-cooperation and stalling with Yemen's government.

The Huthis also demand the evacuation of their wounded fighters from Sanaa to Oman.

But in Geneva Friday, Yemen's foreign minister Khaled Yamani insisted the Huthi delay was evidence of infighting.

"We came to Geneva .. ready and willing to delve into talks" on confidence-building, Yamani told UAE's Sky News.

He slammed the Huthi "excuses" for not arriving on time as "an attempt to cover up something critical, and that is that the insurgents are arguing about who among them will represent them in Geneva."
Griffiths' office said Friday he was "still working on getting the Ansarullah (rebel) delegation to Geneva."