The Saudi-led coalition link backing theYemeni government against Huthi rebels in Yemenlink conflict Tuesday announced a ceasefirelink from Wednesdaylink morning and peace talks during theIslamic month of Ramadan starting next month.
“The coalition link hereby announces thecessation of military operations in Yemenlink beginning at 0600 am (0300 GMT)Wednesday link, March 30, 2022,” it saidin a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
This “coincides with the launch of Yemeni-Yemeni consultations with the aimof creating the appropriate conditions for their success and creating apositive environment during the holy month of Ramadan for peace making inYemen link,” it added.
Ramadan is to start in the first days of April.
The rebels have shunned the meeting in Riyadh from Wednesdaylink that is hosted by the GulfCooperation Council and involves the Yemeni government and US and UN envoysto Yemen link. The Huthis say they won’ttravel to enemy territory for talks.
UN envoy Hans Grundberg earlier on Tuesday evening said on Twitter: “I’mvery grateful for the unanimous support expressed for UN efforts onimmediate de-escalation and a political settlement of the conflict.”
The coalition link announcement comesafter an official told AFP that Saudi Arabialink was waiting for “serioussteps” from Yemen link rebels on apotential prisoner swap before responding to their offer of a ceasefirelink.
*- Prisoner release talks -*
The Iran-backed Huthis called a three-day truce and dangled the possibilityof a permanent end to hostilities on Saturday, seven years after the startof the war.
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The offer was on condition that the Saudis end their blockade and airstrikes and remove coalition link forcesfrom Yemen link.
On Sunday, the Huthis said an agreement had been reached to free 1,400 oftheir fighters in exchange for 823 pro-government personnel, including 16Saudis and three Sudanese.
The brother of Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi is among theprisoners set for release, Abdul Qader Al-Murtada, head of the Huthis’prisoners affairs committee, wrote on Twitter.
Hadi Haig, his counterpart in Yemen linkgovernment, said the exchange was “under consideration”.
Basheer Omar, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Crossin Yemen link which handles the logistics ofswaps, said earlier the organisation was pleased “to hear that someprogress has been made in negotiations between the parties on another majorrelease”.
“We hope to soon see a release process for the detainees and theirfamilies. But we are also aware that negotiations of this kind during anactive conflict are complex and require time,” he told AFP.
The last prisoner swap was in October 2020, when 1,056 people were releasedon each side, according to the ICRC.
