Yemen talks resume after Kuwaiti Emir's mediation

Yemeni factions resumed their “direct consultations” yesterday after mediation efforts by Kuwait’s Emir Sabah Al Ahmad Jaber Al Sabah, a source in the Yemeni government’s negotiating delegation said.

Al Sabah received a Yemeni government delegation as well as Houthi members and the Popular Congress party, which supports deposed president Ali Abdallah Saleh, and discussed the halt in talks.

The source noted that the UN-sponsored talks that took place with both delegations resulted in an agreement to hold “direct talks” between the two sides at 4pm Kuwaiti time.

The agenda has not been revealed publicly although talks started more than six days ago.

The fifth day of talks on Monday passed without direct talks being held, sources told the Anadolu Agency.

The talks are based on UN Security Council resolution 2216.

The five points set by the UN are as follows: the withdrawal of the Houthi militias from the cities they seized in the fourth quarter of 2014, including the capital Sanaa; handing over heavy arms; handing over control of state institutions, dealing with the issue of political detainees, prisoners and abducted Yemenis; and discussing steps for resuming the political process.