US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that rebels are ready to observe a cease-fire in Yemen starting this week but the government swiftly dismissed the plan. The Iran-backed Huthi rebels had agreed to a "cessation of hostilities beginning on November 17, provided the other party implements the same commitment," said Kerry.
He was speaking in Abu Dhabi a day after meeting Huthi negotiators in Oman for talks aimed at finding a durable political settlement for the war in Yemen which has killed thousands. Kerry said the United Arab Emirates and regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia "have both agreed to try to move forwards with this. They believe it makes sense". Saudi Arabia leads an Arab coalition that has been battling the rebels in Yemen in a bid to restore the legitimacy of the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.