UN envoy Martin Griffiths attends a news conference ahead of Yemen talks at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland September 5, 2018.
Yemeni deputy minister of youth on Thursday said the peace process in Geneva broke down due to absence of a delegation representing Yemen's Houthi rebel group.
“Unfortunately, peace talks of Yemen Government with the Houthi rebels […] is collapsing,” Hamza al-Kamali, the deputy minister, told Anadolu Agency.
Al-Kamali said the Houthis did not want to come and they have been making excuses for that. “All of that they are saying to the media is false,” he added.
Protesters on Thursday blocked roads in the southern city of Aden -- Yemen's interim capital -- while three cities in Hadhramaut province were also rocked by demonstrations.For the fifth consecutive day, youths in Aden and Hadhramaut staged demonstrations against rapidly rising costs of living following a recent plunge in the value of Yemen’s currency vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar.Witnesses said angry protesters had blocked all roads linking the province’s eight directorates, bringing traffic to a virtual standstill.According to local residents, protesters also blocked roads leading to Aden’s Maasheeq presidential palace, prompting the deployment of UAE-backed “Security Belt” forces, which support Yemen’s pro-Saudi government.Houthi missile destroyed over SW Saudi Arabia; 26 injuredIn Hadhramaut, meanwhile, three of the province’s largest cities -- Seiyun, Al-Qatn and regional capital Mukalla -- all saw continued protests on Thursday.In an effort to contain mounting popular discontent, the government earlier this week announced a 30-percent increase in public-sector salaries.The move failed to dampen the protests, however, which erupted after a sharp drop in the value of Yemen’s rial from about 515 to the dollar last month to a current 630.At the beginning of 2015, the rial had traded at roughly 215 to the greenback.Yemen has remained wracked by violence since 2014, when Houthi rebels overran much of the country, forcing Yemen’s pro-Saudi government to take up temporary residence in Aden.Political solution only way in Yemen: UNTop US general visits Yemen
For 5th consecutive day, Yemen’s Aden rocked by protest
Stating that the Houthis once again showed their stance against peace, he said the allegation of not being able to come to Geneva due to lack of required permissions from the Sanaa Airport was not true.
Al-Kamali said all procedures were completed and necessary permissions for the flight were given four days ago.
“The next 24 hours will have a clear position from these peace talks,” he said, adding that a press statement from the UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths was going to “clarify everything”.
At least 26 people were injured by shrapnel when a missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi militia was intercepted over Saudi Arabia’s southwestern Najran region, according to a Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the Houthis since 2015.“At 8.08 p.m. Wednesday, Saudi air-defense forces spotted the launch of a missile fired toward Najran, which was successfully intercepted and destroyed,” coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said in a statement Wednesday evening.According to al-Maliki, the Houthis have fired a total of 189 missiles since 2015 into or toward Saudi territory, which, he said, had resulted in the death of 112 civilians and the injury of hundreds of others.Abdul Khaliq Ali al-Qahtani, a spokesman for the Saudi Civil Defense Directorate in Najran city, told the Saudi Press Agency that 26 civilians -- including two children -- had been injured by shrapnel that rained down on the area when the missile was intercepted on Wednesday evening.The spokesman added that 15 of those injured had been treated at the site while the remaining 11 were taken to nearby hospitals.Yemen has remained wracked by violence since 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies launched a massive air campaign in Yemen aimed at shoring up the country’s pro-Saudi government.
Houthi missile destroyed over SW Saudi Arabia; 26 injured
Noting that the Houthis were rejecting to come to Geneva and they are not likely to come now, al-Kamali said the Yemeni government delegation is planning to leave Geneva on Friday.
Later in the day, a statement from Griffiths’ office, following his meeting with the delegation of the Yemeni government, said: “The Special Envoy thanked the Yemeni Government for their positive engagement with his efforts to relaunch the peace process.
“He acknowledged the efforts made by the Government of Yemen and the Coalition to facilitate the convening of these consultations,” according to the statement.
The only way to solve the conflict in Yemen is through a political solution, the UN Security Council (UNSC) said Wednesday.In a statement, the council welcomes consultations with representatives from all parties in Yemen and supports a UN-led political process in the country.According to the statement, the council members expressed their full support the efforts of Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Martin Griffiths to bring about a political settlement."The members of the Security Council reiterated that there can only be a political solution to the conflict in Yemen," read the statement.Representatives from all parties in Yemen are scheduled to meet Thursday with Griffiths in Geneva.The council urges all parties to "seize this opportunity to de-escalate tensions" and to "take a first step towards ending a conflict that has brought severe pain and humanitarian suffering to the Yemeni people"."These initial consultations will be a necessary and important step towards the comprehensive and inclusive security and political agreements that will be required to resolve the conflict, improve the humanitarian situation, and bring peace, prosperity and security to all Yemenis," it said.The council also calls for the implementation of several resolutions including UN resolution 2216, which was adopted in 2015 and imposes an arms embargo on individuals identified by the Security Council."The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen," the statement added.Impoverished Yemen has remained wracked by conflict since 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.The conflict escalated the following year when Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies launched a wide-ranging air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in Yemen.The violence has devastated the country’s infrastructure, prompting the UN to describe the situation as “one of the worst humanitarian disasters of modern times”.Yemenis continue protests amid currency plungeYemeni photojournalist shot dead in TaizUS welcomes Saudi Arabia's admission about Yemen strikeYemenis protest in Aden as local currency plungesYemen's Houthis say target a Saudi warship
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Reiterating the need for reaching “an inclusive political solution to the conflict in Yemen,” it said Yemeni people -- who are living under dire humanitarian conditions -- hope for a quick settlement of the conflict.
“The Special Envoy is mindful of the challenges associated with bringing the parties together to Geneva, bearing in mind that they haven’t met for two years,” the statement said.
“He was hopeful to see Sana’a Delegation present to expedite the political process. He continues to make efforts to overcome obstacles to allow the consultations to go forward,” it added.
The top general overseeing U.S. military operations in the Middle East met Wednesday with Yemen's chief of staff in the interim capital, Aden.According to Yemen’s official SABA news agency, Gen. Joseph Votel, head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Major General Taher al-Aqili discussed developing Yemen's coast guard, naval forces and special forces to “tackle the threat of terrorist militias and fight smuggling”.The two also discussed the situation in Yemen and the government's attempt to restore the state."Yemen will not be the starting point of terrorist groups but will be a part of international peace and security," al-Aqili said."The U.S. supports the legitimate government in Yemen and wants peace and stability in the country," Votel noted. Impoverished Yemen has remained wracked by conflict since 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country. The conflict escalated the following year when Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies launched a wide-ranging air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in Yemen. The violence has devastated the country’s infrastructure, prompting the UN to describe the situation as “one of the worst humanitarian disasters of modern times”.Houthis prevented from attending Geneva peace talksSpain confirms report it has halted sale of bombs to Saudi ArabiaYemenis continue protests amid currency plungeYemeni photojournalist shot dead in Taiz
Top US general visits Yemen
Impoverished Yemen has remained wracked by conflict since 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including the capital of Sanaa.
The conflict escalated the following year when Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies launched a wide-ranging air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in Yemen.
The violence has devastated the country’s infrastructure, prompting the UN to describe the situation as “one of the worst humanitarian disasters of modern times.”