Obama calls on Yemen's rivals to respect a ceasefire

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Saturday 19 Dec 2015 - 14:53 Makkah mean time-8-3-1437 Washington (IINA) - U.S. President Barack Obama called on Yemen's warring parties to respect a ceasefire that lay in tatters Friday, amid fighting between government and rebel forces. The White House said that Obama, in a call with Abu Dhabi's crown prince, stressed the "urgent need for all parties to adhere to the ceasefire in Yemen" and to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict. A Saudi-led coalition launched an air war against the Houthi militias and their allies in March. The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen also voiced deep concern on Friday, the fourth day of peace talks, at "numerous reports of violations of the cessation of hostilities" and set up a mechanism to strengthen compliance, a U.N. statement said. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said that the heads of delegations at talks being held in Switzerland between the exiled Yemeni government and Houthi militias had renewed their commitment to a ceasefire that took effect on Tuesday. “He urges all parties to respect this agreement and allow unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the most affected districts of Yemen,” the statement said. Talks would continue on Saturday to "build on what was agreed upon in previous days and continue efforts to find an urgent political resolution to the crisis in Yemen". HA/IINA