Hadi rep dismisses Kerry's remarks on Yemen truce

A representative of Yemen’s former government has rejected remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry that forces loyal to ex-president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi have agreed to a ceasefire.

"The government of Yemen is not aware of the statements made by Mr. Kerry and does not consider itself committed to them," former foreign minister Abdel Malek al-Mekhlafi said on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Kerry said that both the Ansarullah movement and an alliance of militants loyal to Hadi had agreed to a cessation of hostilities starting on November 17.

Mekhlafi, however, stated that the remarks had been attributed to Kerry in "a bid to derail peace efforts and to reach agreements with the Houthis without the government."

Hadi resigned and fled the capital Sana’a in March last year. Saudi Arabia has been a waging a destructive bombing campaign against Yemen since March 2015, killing thousands in an attempt to restore Hadi to power.

Houthi fighters have been defending Yemen against the Saudi aggression.

The Ansarullah, whom Kerry said had met with him in Oman a day earlier, are yet to confirm their commitment to the truce.

Kerry also said the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia "have both agreed to try to move forward with this. They believe it makes sense." Abu Dhabi has been assisting Riyadh in its bombing campaign.

SS