Yemen peace talks set to begin in Kuwait after delay

Peace talks between Yemen's Houthi rebels and government are set to begin in Kuwait after the Houthis agreed to participate following assurances that pro-government forces would respect a ceasefire, the United Nations has said.

A delegation of Houthi representatives and their allies flew out of Sanaa on Wednesday to join the talks, saying the UN had assured them over the truce.

"The Yemeni peace negotiations will start tomorrow in Kuwait under the auspices of the United Nations," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said from New York.

The UN-brokered talks had been set to open in Kuwait on Monday but were put off after the Iran-backed fighters failed to show up over alleged violations of the ceasefire, which took effect on April 11.

The Yemeni government delegation, which arrived in Kuwait at the weekend, had threatened to pull out if the talks did not start on Thursday morning.

The delegation, in a statement, also accused the Houthi rebels of violating the ceasefire in many areas.

The talks are the most important attempt yet to resolve Yemen's devastating conflict, which the United Nations says has killed more than 6,400 people and forced almost 2.8 million from their homes...
 [AFP -aljazeera.com]
20/4/16
--
-
Related:
 

• UN envoys say hope to see early end to Yemeni conflict

• Yemen cease-fire begins in seven provinces amid tension

• Yemen Ceasefire Takes Effect as UN Vows to Aid Civilians