*RIYADH:* Saudi Arabia and its adversaries in Yemen’s armed Houthi movementare holding secret talks to try to end a three-year-old war that hasunleashed the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, diplomats and Yemenipolitical sources said.
A Saudi-led coalition is fighting to counter the influence of Riyadh’sarch-foe Iran, an ally of the Houthis, who deny any help from Tehran andsay they are fighting a revolution against corrupt politicians and Gulfpowers in thrall to the West.
Speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, two diplomats and two Yemeniofficials said the Houthi Spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam had been in directcommunication with Saudi officials in Oman on a comprehensive solution tothe conflict.
“There are consultations between the Houthis and the Saudis, without arepresentative of the internationally recognised government, and it isclear that there is a desire of the Houthis and the coalition to go towarda comprehensive agreement,” one diplomat told Reuters.
A coalition official denied that Saudi Arabia had any negotiations with theHouthis, and reaffirmed support, in a statement to Reuters, for UN peaceefforts aimed at reaching a political solution. Houthi officials did notprovide an official comment. Hailing from Yemen’s Zaydi Shi’ite sect, theHouthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and drove the internationally recognisedgovernment of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi into Saudi exile.
Fearing the advance was part of a regional power grab by Tehran, Riyadh andother mostly Sunni Muslim Gulf Arab states armed and supported by theUnited States and Britain intervened to restore his rule. The hoped-foraccord would begin with a truce to pause fighting on nationwidebattlefronts and culminate in the signing of a peace deal addressing thepolitical interests of the warring parties, the sources added.
Thousands of Saudi-led air strikes have killed hundreds of Yemenicivilians, while Houthi-led cross-border rocket attacks on Saudi Arabiahave led to hundreds of casualties. Coalition forces have made modestterritorial gains but appear far from seizing back the capital fromseasoned Houthi fighters. With no victory in sight, and as the war pushesthe country towards famine, Saudi officials including the powerful crownprince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman have expressed a desire towrap up the conflict. – Agencies