Local Editor
A senior official of the Houthi Ansarullah movement fighting the resigned Yemeni regime has denied recent reports that his group has entered into dialogue with Saudi Arabia to end the war.
Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition of Arab states that is trying to forcefully bring back to power the resigned regime of fugitive President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Two diplomatic sources in addition to two officials from the Hadi regime recently told Reuters that senior Houthi officials have met with Saudi officials on neutral ground, in Oman.
“There are consultations between the Houthis and the Saudis, without a representative of the internationally recognized government, and it is clear that there is a desire of the Houthis and the coalition to go toward a comprehensive agreement,” one diplomat told Reuters.
Houthi official, Saleh al-Samad, head of the Supreme Political Council rejected the claim.
“There are those who say that [Houthi spokesman] Mohammed Abdul-Salam wants to blackmail us and we know that Saudi Arabia is not ready for peace and that its decision is not in its own hands. Otherwise we would sit at the negotiating table,” he said.
Yemen slid into conflict in 2015. The conflict has left around 10,000 people dead and international pressure has been heaping on Saudi Arabia to halt its campaign.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
