Yemen rebels mobilise to fight ahead of UN envoy visit

Yemeni rebels have said they are ready to mobilise more fighters to the frontline despite a lull in battleground Hodeida, as the UN envoy prepares to visit the country to boost peace efforts.

Dozens of Huthi rebels put on a show of strength on the outskirts of the capital Sanaa on Saturday, apparently getting ready to head towards Hodeida, a Red Sea city home to a vital port.

Residents told AFP by telephone on Sunday that relative calm had held in Hodeida city since pro-government forces -- backed by a Saudi-led military coalition -- announced a pause in their offensive last week amid international calls for a ceasefire and UN-led peace efforts.

UN special envoy Martin Griffiths -- whose efforts at kick-starting peace talks collapsed in September -- said on Friday that he plans to travel to rebel-held Sanaa next week to finalise arrangements for peace talks to take place in Sweden soon.

Hameed Assem, a member of the rebel delegation expected to take part in the negotiations, said that Huthis will continue to mobilise if UN efforts for peace fail to materialise.

"We are ready for dialogue at any time when there is real dialogue that leads to peace," he told AFP.

"If Griffiths comes, we are ready for dialogue. If he doesn't come, we are ready to fight until (our) last breath."
"The (Huthis) confirm they are ready to mobilise to the battlefronts."