Yemen's warring factions failed to agree on an agenda for UN-backed peace negotiations in Kuwait on Friday after their first direct meeting but the effort will continue, participants said.
The talks in Kuwait, which opened late on Thursday, bring together the Houthi movement and its General People's Congress (GPC) party allies with the government of Yemeni President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi.
The talks seek a solution to a conflict which has killed more than 6,200 people, triggered a humanitarian crisis and enabled militants linked to Al Qaeda and IS to consolidate their presence in the country.
Sources present at the talks, delayed since Monday due to the late arrival of the Houthi delegation and its allies, said the two sides were divided on the priorities.
The government delegation wants Houthis and fighters loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh to withdraw from cities and hand over weapons before discussing a political solution, the sources said.
The Houthis and its allies want the formation of a new government representing all parties, which will then oversee disarmament. They also want to focus the discussion on security arrangements and detainees, the sources added.
The sources declined to be named because the talks being held at the palace of Kuwait's emir are closed to the media.
Yemen's crisis began in September 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa. A Saudi-led Arab alliance intervened in March last year, launching a campaign of mostly air strikes against the Houthis in support of Hadi's forces.
A temporary truce between the government and Houthis has mostly held in place since April 10, although both sides have accused each other of violations.
UN special envoy Ould Cheikh Ahmed on Thursday outlined five points as the basis for the talks, officially dubbed "consultations".
These included withdrawal from cities seized by the Houthis since the crisis began in 2014, forming a more inclusive government and handing over heavy weapons to the new government in the country, which is currently divided between the Houthis and Hadi's administration, based in the southern port of Aden. Its representatives move between there and Saudi Arabia.
Source: Timesofoman
GMT 15:43 2018 Friday ,07 December
Government hails failure of US draft resolution to condemn HamasGMT 17:32 2018 Tuesday ,30 October
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak lauds leadership's directives to enhance Kuwaiti unityGMT 18:56 2018 Saturday ,27 October
Bahraini PM praises Kuwait's Amir efforts in strengthening Arab cooperationGMT 19:40 2018 Wednesday ,10 October
Kuwait's supportive stances towards Bahrain hailed brotherlyGMT 16:02 2018 Sunday ,07 October
Kuwait's human rights record recognized internationallyMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor