Saudis push for peace

– The Saudi-led coalition said it approved evacuating wounded Houthi fighters for treatment yesterday, meeting a key condition for the group to attend UN-sponsored peace talks in Sweden this week aimed at ending Yemen’s nearly four-yearold war.

Prospects for convening talks have increased as Western allies press Saudi Arabia, leader of the Sunni Muslim alliance battling the Iranian-aligned Houthis, over a war that has killed more than 10 000 people and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine.

The talks could start tomorrow, two sources familiar with the matter said, after UN special envoy Martin Griffiths shuttled between the parties to salvage a previous round that collapsed in September after the Houthis failed to show up.

Western powers, which provide arms and intelligence to the coalition, may have greater leverage to demand action on Yemen after outrage over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Riyadh’s consulate in Istanbul increased scrutiny of the kingdom’s activities in the region.

The US Senate is due to consider this week a resolution to end support for the conflict, which is seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and its arch foe, Shi’ite Iran. – Reuters

Dubai