YEMEN-SECURITY/GENEVA UN's Ban hosts talks in Geneva between Yemen's warring factions

Record ID: 151191

  • Title: YEMEN-SECURITY/GENEVA UN's Ban hosts talks in Geneva between Yemen's warring factions
  • Date: 15th June 2015
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JUNE 15, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS VARIOUS OF YEMENI GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INCLUDING YEMEN FOREIGN MINISTER REYAD YASSIN AT MEETING WITH U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN VARIOUS OF MEDIA AND SECURITY OFFICIALS OULD CHEIKH AHMED, BAN AND YASSIN LEAVING MEETING VARIOUS OF SATELLITE TRUCKS OUTSIDE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAB1O7DZ6B3LD3N3BSKH6SN46L8
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Yemeni government officials representing exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi met United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Monday (June 15), as planned peace talks between the country's warring sides appeared destined for yet another delay.
    The early Monday morning session took place without the Iran-backed Houthi rebels or any other Yemeni political parties who are expected to participate in the long-anticipated peace talks.
    A U.N. plane carrying the Houthis, the southern separatists, representatives of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and several other officials from smaller Yemeni political parties is "stuck" in Djibouti, with no sign of when they will arrive, officials said.
    The U.N. sponsored talks have been delayed repeatedly in recent weeks, with each side placing demands and pre-conditions for the talks.
    Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and its coalition of Sunni Arab nations continue to pound Yemeni cities in an air offensive aimed at ousting the Shiite Houthi rebels from areas they have seized since last year.
    Coalition warplanes bombarded the capital Sanaa overnight, causing large explosions throughout the city. Since the start of the March 26 offensive, some 2,600 people have been killed and thousands more have been wounded.
    The conflict has taken its toll on Yemen, already the poorest country in the Arab world.
    An existing humanitarian crisis has deteriorated due to an air and sea blockade imposed by the Saudi-led coalition to stop arms supplies to the Houthis and their allies, militias loyal to Saleh.
    The blockade however also cuts off access to food, medicine and fuel for millions of the country's citizens.
    In recent weeks an "alarming" number of dengue fever and measles cases have also been reported in Yemen, contributing to a public health crisis, the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a note late on Sunday.
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