Yemen Ceasefire Takes Effect, U.N.-Mediated Peace Talks Begin In Switzerland

The internationally recognized Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi-led Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthi rebels began U.N.-mediated peace talks in Switzerland on Tuesday, according to BBC.

The representatives from Yemeni government, Sanaa-based Houthi rebels and the General People's Congress (GPC), party of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, are taking part in talks. The peace talks come after the warring factions earlier agreed for a weeklong ceasefire starting Monday, as HNGN reported previously.

The U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, in his opening remarks to the consultations, welcomed the peace talks stressing that political solution is only way to out to end the unprecedented suffering of the Yemeni people.

"Yemeni people of all groups (men and women of all ages and communities) are undergoing unprecedented suffering as the beloved county of Yemen is being consumed by the flames of violence and armed conflict," the secretary general's representative said, according to a press release from United Nations Geneva. "Here I would like to pause and reiterate once more that the only solution is a political one and that violence must cease."

Ahmed also urged all parties to adhere to the ceasefire declaration and work towards a permanent and comprehensive truce.

However, Saudi-led Arab coalition and rebels have accused each other of breaching the truce.

"We will not stay hand-tied, but we will respond strongly towards the breaches that are taking place by the alliance and their mercenaries," a rebel forces commander said, according to Reuters.

Tags

Yemen, Ceasefire, Houthi, Sanaa, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland