Local Editor
Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement and the resigned regime have agreed on a preliminary compromise for redeploying their forces from the port city of Hodeida, the UN said Thursday, shoring up a truce deal that marks the first step toward ending the devastating war.
The pullback from Hodeida was initially agreed under the ceasefire deal reached in December in Sweden. But deadlines for both sides to move their forces away from the ports and parts of city were missed.
Following three rounds of talks aboard a UN ship in Hodeida's harbour, a proposal was put forward by Danish General Michael Lollesgaard, who heads a UN observer mission, "that proved acceptable, in principle," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
"A preliminary compromise was agreed, pending further consultation by the parties with their respective leaders," said Dujarric.
The two sides are to meet again next week to finalize details for the redeployment, if the compromise is endorsed by the Huthi and resigned regime leadership.
The ceasefire and the redeployment of forces agreed in Stockholm have been hailed as a major step toward ending Yemen's nearly four-year war that has left millions on the brink of famine.
UN officials however have warned the peace gains are fragile.
The first phase of the redeployment from the ports of Hodeida, Saleef, Ras Issa and from parts of the city where there are humanitarian facilities was scheduled to happen two weeks after the ceasefire went into force on December 18.
But that deadline was missed as the Hadi ex-regime and Houthis haggled over the interpretation of the agreement.
The Red Sea port is the entry point for the bulk of Yemen's imported goods and humanitarian aid, providing a lifeline to millions in the Arab world's poorest country.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
