Houthis and Saleh behind stalemate in peace talks: Gargash

Abu Dhabi - Rebel forces hold more than 200 prisoners and use them as human shields, the UAE minister alleges.

Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said the date of the next round of UN-sponsored talks between the Yemeni government and rebels, depends on the responsibility shown by deposed president Saleh and Houthis towards a political solution.
The UN special envoy for Yemen failed in his latest efforts in trying to reach an agreement on a new date for holding peace talks between the parties of the conflict. The round of talks which slated for January 14, was postponed to a date to be fixed later.
The failure was attributed to the rejection of the Houthi rebels to set the prisoners free, though it is one of the key provisions in the UN Security Council resolution.
The Yemeni government demanded the release of hundreds of prisoners, including defence minister Mahmoud Al Subahi, who is also brother of Yemeni president Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi, and Brigadier Faisal Rajab, commander of the 119 infantry brigade. The government considers it as main pre-condition for attending the next round of peace talks.
"The Houthis and Saleh are holding more than 200 prisoners and use them as human shields," Gargash said.
"Doctors without Borders (MSF) was unable to bring in medicines to the besieged Taiz," Gargash said and held the Houthis and Saleh accountable for their inhumanity.
He hailed the work of MSF in providing aid and assistance to the civilians.
In a reply to Iranian and Houthi rebels' allegation that the Arab coalition forces had shelled the Iranian embassy in the rebel-held capital Sanaa, Dr Gargash said that western sources, who were on the ground, had revealed that the embassy was not targeted or hit by the Saudi-led coalition.
The rebels refused to heed to the international will and commit to implement the UN Security Council resolution No 2216, which calls for the withdrawal of its forces from the Yemeni cities and release of the prisoners.
This rejection was seen by many as normal as long as the main supporter of the insurgents is Iran, which is never committing to the international norms and conventions.
Relief supplies
The higher medical panel in city of Taiz declared that a total of 37 local hospitals had stopped working due to war and blockade prevailing in the city, as oxygen cylinders, medicines and other medial requirements were denied access to the city.
However, the Arab coalition air jets have carried out eight operations where the air forces dropped aid of medicines and other requirements, which were distributed amongst three hospitals that are still operating there.
Insurgents were not able to hit back to the successes made by the Arab coalition, except for stepping up the aimless shelling at areas populated by resistance forces and civilians.
Taiz residents confirmed that the rebels had staged hysteric shelling operations at densely populated areas in Al Wazzeiya neighbourhood parallel to Al Madareba district in Lahj. The citizens also confirmed that some people were killed and others injured in the shelling including local children, whose homes had been hit by Katyusha rockets fired by the Houthi militants.
A new batch of hopeful recruits
The past few days witnessed the graduation of the 6th batch of as many as 358 Yemeni trainees (of the popular resistance), who received a crash military orientation and training course at various specialties by the UAE armed forces to join the legitimate Yemeni army.
Meanwhile, there were several attempts on the lives of the leaders of Saleh's forces and the Houthi militias in Sanaa in recent days.
It was not clear who was behind the assassinations and attacks, but local sources and analysts referred to the fact that these operations were part of undisclosed dispute ensued between Saleh and the Houthi group.

• MENA