Around 400 Yemeni politicians and tribal leaders have launched talks in Saudi Arabia on the future of their war-torn country, but the Shia Houthi rebels who control the capital and much of northern Yemen are not participating.
The U.N. envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, opened the summit on Sunday by calling on all parties to ensure that a shaky humanitarian ceasefire leads to a lasting truce.
Saudi Arabia is hosting the three-day talks under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Houthis have rejected joining the talks in Saudi Arabia, which has been carrying out airstrikes against the rebels since March.
The airstrikes are aimed at restoring Yemen’s internationally recognised President Abdrahbu Mansour Hadi, who fled the country in March. Mr. Hadi attended Sunday’s conference.
