Yemen’s government accepts United Nations invite for talks with Shiite Houthi rebels

The Yemeni government said on Sunday it had agreed to attend talks after the Houthis formally committed to implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216.

The Yemeni government and Houthi rebels will hold peace talks in Geneva at the end of October in a renewed effort to end nearly a year of fighting that has created a humanitarian disaster in the Arab world’s poorest state.

But the Houthis have since written to United Nations Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon informing him that they were ready to discuss implementing the resolution.

Yemen’s government spokesperson, Rajeh Badi, confirmed Hadi had agreed to the talks, but declined to comment whether the Houthis had provided assurances regarding a withdrawal and handing over weapons. “They systematically kill Yemenis in wedding ceremonies, at mosques and even at markets”, a protestor said.

They expressed hope that these consultations would lead to a political solution on the basis of the GCC initiative and its executive mechanism and the outputs of the comprehensive national dialogue conference, to contribute to the realisation of security, peace and stability in Yemen.

In addition, Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed met representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and representatives of the diplomatic community in Riyadh during his three-day visit. The Houthis and their allies control the capital, Sanaa, and parts of the north.

Also Monday, Sudan acknowledged that it has sent troops to Yemen to fight with the Saudi-led coalition.

Last month, Hadi’s government backed away from UN-sponsored talks that were to be held in Oman, insisting the rebels first withdraw from captured territory. A Sudanese battalion has arrived in the southern port city of Aden, Sudanese army spokesman Brig.

Meanwhile, fighting raged in the desert province of Jawf, where nine pro-government and six anti-government fighters were killed, according to security officials.