18 October 2016 - 06:51
UN announces 72-hour ceasefire in Yemen

The UN has announced that a 72-hour ceasefire in Yemen will go into effect on Wednesday night.

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The United Nations special envoy for Yemen has announced a three-day ceasefire in war-hit Yemen.

According to a statement, released by Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on Monday, the truce will begin on 23:59 local time on Wednesday and continue for 72 hours.

"The special envoy welcomes the restoration of the cessation of hostilities, which will spare the Yemeni people further bloodshed and will allow for the expanded delivery of humanitarian assistance," added the statement.

It notes that assurances have been received from all Yemeni parties engaged in the conflict and that the given time period is subject to renewal.

On Sunday, the US, UK and the UN called the warring sides in the conflict in Yemen to declare an immediate ceasefire.

The call was made following a meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, and Cheikh Ahmed in London.

Earlier, former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir both announced they are willing to take part in a ceasefire if Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement is also willing to do so.

The Saudi war against Yemen has killed almost 6,900 people, wounded more than 35,000 and displaced at least three million since March last year, according to the UN.





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