Saudi-led initiative wants comprehensive settlement in Yemen, not 'truce'

The Saudi-led Arab coalition called on government forces in Yemen on Monday to aim at a comprehensive settlement in the country, not just a truce as had been proposed earlier by a Houthi leader. Saleh Sammad, the head of the political council formed by Houthis in August, had proposed a truce on the borders with Saudi Arabia in return for a halt to coalition air strikes launched against the rebels.

The spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, Brigadier General Ahmed Assiri, said that he believes it is not enough to have a “truce”, because the rebels “refuse” to accept the peace initiative announced by US Secretary of State John Kerry on 25 August.

Kerry’s initiative called for the Houthis, who are allied with ousted Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, to be included in a “national unity government” in return for withdrawing from the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and other areas in Yemen’s north. If implemented, the initiative would also require the Houthis to disarm. The rebel group is accused of receiving military and other support from Iran.