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Yemeni soldiers on a pickup vehicle during a patrol in the old city of Sana'a. Image Credit: EPA

Sana'a: Calm returns to north Yemen on Friday after the truce declaration.

The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced late on Thursday the end of the war between his troops and Al Houthi rebels starting from the first hour of Friday, February 12.

The rebels also announced the end of the war, starting from same time.

Saleh's decree to stop the war came after he held a meeting with the national committee to supervise the implementation of the government's six conditions accepted by the rebels for ending the war.

Four subcommittees were also formed with participation of members from Al Houthi sides to supervise the implementation of the six conditions in areas around Sa'ada, Harf Sufyan, Al Malahaid, and the borders with Saudi Arabia.

Earlier in the day, official sources said the war between Al Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government will end in the coming few hours after reaching a deal to end the six-year conflict.

A national committee from the Yemeni parliament was formed to supervise the implementation of the six conditions set by the government for ending the war, said the sources.

This committee, which has also field subcommittees including members from Al Houthi side, will start its work immediately after the military operations stop.

The sources said the government would announce a permanent halt of the military operations in the coming few hours in all frontlines.

The sources said that the President Ali Abdullah Saleh is very keen to bring peace and save blood, and start the process of development, building and reconstruction.

Opening the blocked roads, retuning of the displaced people to their villages, and releasing detainees, all these need to be done immediately after the announcement of the halt of the military operations.

Among the subcommittees, there will be a committee for treating the social and material impacts of the war. A general compromise, agreed upon by all, will be reached to prevent any retaliation, new attacks, or revenges in all the war-affected areas.

Al Houthi elements will participate in the field subcommittees, which will supervise the implementation of the six conditions previously accepted by Al Houthis to end the war.

The purpose of these subcommittees is to prevent or solve any possible dispute that may happen during the implementation of the six conditions, according to the time table and mechanism which was agreed by Al Houthis.

The conditions, which Al Houthis accepted to end the war, include the rebels' going down from the mountains, handing over the weapons, and not attacking the territories of Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the new governor of Sa'ada, Taha Hajer, in his first meeting with the leaders of the province of Sa'ada, said on Wednesday that Sa'ada will witness a new stage of peace and development.