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Significant differences remain in Yemen talks: UN envoy

Monday, 25 April 2016 4:52 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 25 April 2016 4:49 PM ]

UN envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed attends a press conference after the first direct meeting between Yemen's warring factions in Kuwait City on April 22, 2016. ©Reuters

UN envoy to Yemen says “significant differences” still remain between warring sides as peace talks in Kuwait enter their fifth day.

The fifth day of negotiations between representatives from Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement and the former government began on Monday in Kuwait City.

"Significant differences in the delegations' points of view remain but nonetheless there is consensus on the need to make peace and to work intensively towards an agreement," Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said in a statement late on Sunday.

Both sides are reportedly still addressing ways to consolidate a ceasefire deal that went into effect on April 11, but have yet to address a political settlement yet.

Cheikh Ahmed said each side is expected to appoint an official to propose recommendations on how to sustain the ceasefire.

Picture shows Yemen's warring sides taking part in UN-brokered talks in Kuwait City on April 21, 2016. ©AFP

The Ansarullah movement said that the ceasefire should immediately end the Saudi airstrikes, but the government delegation insisted that safe passages should be opened to areas controlled by Houthis.

The inter-Yemeni peace negotiations in Kuwait opened late on Thursday. The negotiations had been planned by the UN to open on April 18, but were delayed over accusations of ceasefire violations from the parties to the Yemeni conflict.

Saudi Arabia has been staging military attacks against Yemen since last March to shore up the former Yemeni regime and undermine Ansarullah.

More than 9,400 people have been killed and at least 16,000 others injured since the onset of the Saudi aggression.

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