U.N. extends Geneva peace talks on Yemen

The United Nations on Wednesday extended stalled Yemen peace talks taking place in Geneva, with both the exiled government and the Iran-backed Yemeni militias accusing each other of trying to sabotage the process, diplomatic sources told Al Arabiya News channel.

The extension comes hours after the end of the initial 48 hours planned for the talks.

The sources said that the Iranian-backed Houthi delegation in Switzerland spoke about a ceasefire that would limit air strikes without mentioning anything about a cessation of hostilities on the ground.

The proposal was rejected by the legitimate government delegation which insisted on a full ceasefire.

Yemen's warring parties have agreed on the need for a ceasefire but the details remain under discussion.

Al Arabiya’s correspondent in Geneva said Houthis requested a humanitarian truce declaration ahead of talks, a condition the Yemeni government has agreed on, only if Houthis and their supporters abide by the U.N. Security Council resolution 2216, passed in April.

Resolution 2216, which was adopted by the Security Council in April, requires Houthis to quit cities and hand over captured weapons.

On Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon formally opened the Geneva parley calling for a humanitarian truce in Yemen, already suffering severe poverty and unemployment, to coincide with the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.