[13/09/2017 05:33]

RIYADH-SABA
The humanitarian situation in Yemen is worsening because the two parties of the coup alliance are going too far in their criminal and immoral acts, Foreign Minister Abdul-Malik al-Mekhlafi told the US ambassador to Yemen Matthew Tueller in a meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Al-Mekhlafi was referring to the loyalists of the ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh and the rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, who have been battling the government for more than two years.

Al-Mekhlafi said the acts worsening the situation include the alliance's "non-acceptance of the UN Special Envoy IsmaiilOuldCheikh Ahmed's proposals for settlement which resolve the issues of Hodeidah seaport control and unpaid salaries" for the country's civil servants.

Al-Mekhalfi said, "the government accepted those proposals - which entail concessions –hoping to break the standoff and alleviate the coup-caused suffering of the people."

Al-Mekhalfi renewed Yemen's support for the UN Special Envoy's efforts calling for peace sponsor countries (including the US) to work with him achieving a just lasting peace as per the three agreed upon terms of reference; the GCC Initiative, the outcomes of the atonal Dialogue, the UN resolutions regarding Yemen, mainly resolution no. 2216.

He said that the gains which the Saleh-Houthi alliance make from the military takeover "makes the advantaged push for more escalation and hinder any solution that might bring peace and security to Yemen."

The US ambassador touted the Yemeni government's obvious acceptance of the UN envoy's proposals and affirmed the importance of pursuing efforts for achieving peace.

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