Saudi-led alliance mulls Yemen truces

Yemeni deminers examine the scene of an airstrike allegedly carried out by the Saudi-led coalition on a nearby Houthi controlled missile depot in Sana'a. Picture: Yahya Arhab

Yemeni deminers examine the scene of an airstrike allegedly carried out by the Saudi-led coalition on a nearby Houthi controlled missile depot in Sana'a. Picture: Yahya Arhab

Published May 4, 2015

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Riyadh - A Saudi-led Arab alliance conducting air strikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen is considering calling truces in specific areas in Yemen to allow humanitarian supplies to reach the country, the Saudi foreign minister said on Monday.

Adel al-Jubeir also said Saudi Arabia might host a centre to coordinate delivery of humanitarian supplies.

The United Nations says the humanitarian situation in Yemen has grown desperate after weeks of air strikes.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is holding consultations with members of the alliance in defence of legitimacy in Yemen and all countries that support it, to create specific areas inside Yemen to deliver humanitarian supplies, where all aerial operations will stop at specific times to allow these supplies in, as stipulated by UN Security Council resolution 2216,” Jubeir said in a statement.

The resolution imposes an arms embargo on the Houthis and on their allies - army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh - and demands they disarm and leave captured cities, including the capital Sanaa that they seized in September.

Jubeir warned the rebels against exploiting the truces, saying air strikes would resume if the Shi'ite Muslim group did not abide by the truce.

Reuters

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