Yemen's Shiite rebels backed out of UN-brokered peace talks just hours before the negotiations were to start today in Kuwait, demanding an immediate halt to airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition that has waged a year- long war against them, officials said.
It was not immediately clear if the negotiations were completely scuttled. According to two media officials linked to the Shiite rebels known as Houthis, rebel representatives have delayed their trip to Kuwait.
The rebel delegation would not go unless there is a "full halt to the airstrikes" by the Saudi-led coalition, the two officials told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to reporters.
A statement issued this afternoon on behalf of the UN envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, described the Kuwait talks as "delayed" and gave no details on when they might resume.
"We are working to overcome the latest challenges and ask the delegations to show good faith, participate in the talks in order to reach a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Yemen," the envoy said. "The next few hours are crucial. We call on the parties to take their responsibilities seriously and agree on comprehensive solutions."
Officials from the Saudi-led coalition or the Yemeni government could not be immediately reached for comment.
The Kuwait talks are aimed at finding ways to resolve the year-long conflict between Yemen's internationally-recognised government, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, and the Houthis and their allies.
According to Abdel-Rahman al-Ahnoumi, a Houthi media official, the Houthis are not going to Kuwait unless there is a "full suspension" of airstrikes in accordance to the cease- fire deal signed earlier this month.
The official accused the UN envoy of trying to "jump over our" the rebels' demands and head directly to the talks.
"This just reflects that they are not serious about the whole deal," the media official said. "Talks amid the continued airstrikes will be useless."
Cheikh Ahmed has told the UN Security Council that Yemen's warring parties have shown commitment to peace by agreeing on an open-ended cessation of hostilities that began at midnight April 10 and their commitment to attend the talks starting today in Kuwait.
At the peace talks, the UN envoy said he would encourage both sides to negotiate a way forward on issues such as creating interim security arrangements, withdrawing militias and armed groups, handing over heavy weapons to the government, resuming an inclusive political dialogue and releasing of political prisoners and detainees.
