Saudi says prepared for ceasefire in Yemen

Saudi Arabia is prepared to agree to a ceasefire in Yemen, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Monday, adding that he was cynical about efforts for peace after numerous previous ceasefire attempts had failed.

We would like to see a ceasefire yesterday," Jubeir told reporters in London. "Everybody wants a ceasefire in Yemen, nobody more so than the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the coalition members."

He accused the Houthis of reneging on previous deals.

"So yes, we come at this with a lot of cynicism. But we are prepared, the Yemeni government is prepared, to agree to a cessation of hostilities if the Houthis agree to it. The coalition countries will respect the desire of the Yemeni government," Jubeir said.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, together with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, met Jubeir and officials from the United Arab Emirates on Sunday and said the conflict in Yemen was causing increasing international concern.

The Houthis still control Sanaa and large areas of northern and western Yemen, but Jubeir said it was a matter of time before they were defeated.

"The momentum is going against them in Yemen. They're losing more territory; more people are mobilized against them. They are not paying their bills, businesses are not extending credit to them," Jubeir said.

Jubeir said the Sunni Kingdom was being very careful to abide by humanitarian law in the Yemen conflict. He said that those responsible for the funeral bombing would be punished and victims would be compensated.

With agencies