Yemeni government withdraws from peace dialogue

Cairo, Aug 2 (IANS) Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi announced that Yemeni government negotiators decided on Monday to leave Kuwait where peace talks are being held with Houthi rebels, until the rebels accept the plan proposed by the United Nations.

In a news conference broadcast by Al Arabiya TV channel, the Yemeni Minister said that it is "useless" to stay in Kuwait after accepting the UN agreement, but indicated that the official delegation will return to resume negotiations when the rebels sign the pact, EFE news reported.

Mekhlafi pointed out that Kuwait gave a deadline until Sunday for the two warring parties to sign the "security agreement" and then continue negotiations on other political, economic and humanitarian issues.

Houthi rebels and their allies, supporters of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, demanded on Sunday a comprehensive agreement that stipulates the distribution of power, while the government calls for applying the security plan first, which forces the rebels to withdraw from the occupied cities and hand over their weapons.

The UN plan provides the withdrawal of Houthis from Sanaa, as well as the Yemeni provinces of Taiz and Al Hudaydah and holding a political dialogue, which should start 45 days after the acceptance of the pact.