Local Editor
U.N.-sponsored peace talks between Yemen's warring parties are expected to start next week in Sweden, Britain's envoy to Yemen said on Thursday.
The United Nations is trying to reconvene talks between the Saudi-backed resigned regime led by Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the Houthi Ansarullah movement to agree a framework for peace and a transitional governing body.
A previous round in Geneva collapsed in September when the Houthis failed to show up.
The outrage over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul has increased scrutiny on Riyadh's role in conflicts in the region, potentially giving Western powers, which provide arms and intelligence to the Saudi-led coalition, greater impetus for action.
"The Sweden consultations led by the U.N. envoy will take place next week ... the political solution is the way to move forward," Michael Aron, the Riyadh-based British ambassador to Yemen, tweeted to the Houthis' spokesman Mohammed Abdusalam.
Britain is a major arms supplier to Saudi Arabia and opposition politicians and human rights groups have called on the government to cease such sales due to the high civilian death toll in air raids by the coalition in Yemen.
Germany has moved to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia over the Khashoggi killing and Denmark has suspended future approvals of weapons and military equipment exports there.
A member of Hadi's delegation told Reuters on Wednesday that the talks were due to be held on Dec. 4, but that the date could change "depending on logistics".
Martin Griffiths, the U.N. envoy to Yemen, visited the capital Sana’a this week where he met the group's leaders. The U.N. humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, arrived in Sana’a on Thursday.
A spokeswoman from Griffiths' office declined to give an exact date for the talks.
"Preparations are ongoing as planned and we hope the consultations will convene in early December," she said.
The United Nations hopes to get an agreement on Hodeida port, the entry point for the bulk of Yemen's commercial imports as well as the much-needed aid supplies, that will lead to a broader ceasefire.
The Houthis have agreed to hand over the management of the port to the United Nations, but both parties in the war still have to agree on who will hold the control over the city, especially around key facilities.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
