Jordan to host second round of Yemeni peace talks

By Laith Joneidi

AMMAN

Jordan on Saturday agreed to host round of peace talks between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels, according to the country’s foreign ministry.

In a statement, ministry spokesman Sufyan Qudah said Amman "agreed to a request by UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths to host the meeting next week".

The talks will be dedicated to the issue of prisoners exchange between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels, he said. Qudah, however, did not specify a starting date for the talks.

In January, Jordan hosted the first meeting of prisoners exchange between the Yemeni government and Houthis.

On December 13, Yemeni peace talks held in Sweden concluded with a ceasefire deal in the coastal Al-Hudaydah province.

However, the warring parties have failed to withdraw from the province amid accusations of breaching the deal.

Impoverished Yemen has remained dogged by violence since 2014, when the Houthis overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.