A WELCOME GESTURE BY SAUDI ARABIA: The Saudi-led coalition said last month it would release 163 prisoners from Yemen’s Al Houthi militia who fought against the kingdom. And the Saudis are keeping their promise as a gesture of peace by freeing Al Houthis, part of kingdom’s efforts to end the seven-year war. Three planes carrying 117 Yemeni prisoners held by the coalition landed on Friday in the southern port city of Aden. In late March, the Houthis said they had agreed to a prisoner swap that would see 1,400 of their men freed in exchange for 823 pro-government fighters. Now it’s time for Al Houthis to act on their promise. A two-month truce announced on April 1 is mostly holding. This is the time for the international community to push peace efforts and ensure that Al Houthis do not go back on their promises, putting lives of millions of their own people at risk. [COMMENT BY: Stephen N.R., Senior Associate Editor]
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