Yemen warring sides begin face-to-face talks

Warring sides of the conflict in Yemen have begun face-to-face negotiations for the first time since an ongoing round of talks started under the auspices of the United Nations in Kuwait.

Charbel Raji, the spokesman for UN envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, said on Saturday that direct meetings had already started between representatives of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement and those of the resigned president, Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi.

“All delegations are present. Key issues will be addressed,” said Raji of the talks which is being mediated by Ould in Kuwait City.

The key issues Raji mentioned include the withdrawal of armed groups, a handover of heavy weapons, the resumption of a political transition and the release of prisoners.

The negotiations, which started on April 21, have only seen delegations submitting their own proposals to Ould in separate meetings they have held with the UN envoy.

SS