Yemen link Huthi rebelslink have proposed a ceasefire and peacetalks link to end the country’scrippling war in return for opening the capital’s airport and the key portof Hodeida, a senior Saudi link toldAFP on Saturday.
The comments come a day after a wave of drone-and-missile attacks againstSaudi link targets including an oil facilityin Jeddah, sparking a huge fire as Formula One practice sessions took placenearby.
The Iran-backed rebels link last weekrejected an offer of talks in Riyadh — capital of Saudilink Arabia, which leads the pro-governmentmilitary coalition.
“The Huthis put forward an initiative through mediators that includes atruce, opening the airport (Sanaa) and the port (Hodeida) and Yemeni-Yemenidiscussions,” said the official, on condition of anonymity.
“We are waiting for it to be officially announced because they (Huthis) areconstantly changing their words,” he added.
No immediate comment was available from the Huthis, who seized Sanaa in2014, ousting the government and sparking a devastating war. The Saudi-ledcoalition launched its intervention exactly seven years ago.
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A Riyadh-based diplomat told AFP that Hans Grundberg, the UN’s specialenvoy to Yemen link, had led recent effortsto reach a truce during the month of Ramadan, which begins in early April.
Last week, the Saudi-headquartered, six-nation Gulf Cooperation Councilinvited the rebels link to talks in Riyadhlater this month.
But the Huthis refused to hold talks with the government in “enemycountries”. -APP/AFP
