Peace talks falter as rebels refuse to recognise Hadi’s authority

Al Mukalla: The Yemeni government delegation on Tuesday suspended participation in peace talks in Kuwait and vowed to leave the country if Al Houthis and their allied forces did not adhere to the agreed agenda of the talks.

Salim Al Khanbashi, a member of government delegation told Gulf News that talks stumbled when the rebel delegation refused a suggestion by the UN envoy that president Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi head a security committee that would receive arms handed over by them, saying that they do not recognise his authority.

On Tuesday, the UN envoy presented four points including forming a security and military committee, pulling out of cities, return of the government and its bodies to the capital and preparations for a transitional political dialogue.

“When we were discussing the first point, the Al Houthi delegation rejected a proposal that president Hadi form the committee. Instead, they suggested Mohammad Ali Al Houthi, the head of their Revolutionary committee as the head. The UN envoy tried to jump to the following point before agreeing on the first,” he said.

The government delegation demanded that the UN envoy put pressure on the rebels to stick to peace talks references that include the UN Security Council resolution 2216, the GCC peace initiative and outcomes of the National Dialogue.

Both delegations say that the bone of contention was what should come first; handing over arms or forming a consensus government.

The Al Houthi delegation demands a shared government that would take decisions on outstanding issues. Fearing the heavily armed Al Houthis would renege on their promise, the internationally recognised government stipulated that the rebels should first hand over arms, pull out of cities and allow government to return to the capital.

“We have made no progress at all. The UN envoy is consulting with the 18 countries that sponsor the political process in Yemen. We would not return until they [Al Houthi] commit to what we agreed on in Geneva.”

The latest round of peace talks in Kuwait have faced many stumbling blocks since day one. The rebel delegation first delayed their departure from the capital citing violation to the truce. Early this month, the government delegation walked out of talks when Al Houthis fighters stormed a major army brigade in the northern province of Amran. The delegation returned to talks after a security committee was formed to probe Al Houthis attack on the brigade.

On fronts, fierce fighting between government forces and Al Houthis were reported on Tuesday in Jawf, Sana’a, Marib, Taiz and Lahj.