(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The United Nations announced yesterday a date for its conference on Yemen, where Saudi-led warplanes have intensified raids against rebels in a conflict that has displaced half a million people.
But Yemen's government-in-exile swiftly demanded a pullback of the Iran-backed Shia rebels from seized territory as a precondition to joining the talks set for May 28 in Geneva.
The developments came as Tehran headed off a potential confrontation with arch-foe Washington by saying an Iranian ship bound for Yemen in defiance of a blockade would now dock in Djibouti for UN inspection.
The Saudi-led coalition has waged an air campaign against the Houthi rebels since March 26 in an effort to restore the authority of exiled President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, who fled to Riyadh.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said next week's conference was aimed at restoring "momentum towards a Yemeni-led political transition process".
Ban hoped the Geneva talks would "reduce the levels of violence and alleviate the intolerable humanitarian situation".
Following the announcement, however, Foreign Minister Riyadh Yassin said the Hadi government had yet to receive an official invitation. But even if it was invited, Yassin said the government would not attend without some implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2216 as a sign of "goodwill".
The April resolution imposed an arms embargo on the rebels and demanded they relinquish territory they seized since descending from their stronghold in the mountains of northern Yemen last year.
"We will not attend if there is no implementation, at least part of it. If there is no withdrawal from Aden at least, or Taez," Yassin told AFP.
After a five-day humanitarian ceasefire expired at the weekend, the Arab coalition resumed bombing several cities including Sana'a, accusing the rebels of having violated the truce.
The latest strikes on the capital overnight were "the most violent since the start of the bombing" campaign, said Old City resident Saleh Moqbel.
Civilians fled when powerful blasts went off as warplanes targeted for a second straight night arms depots on hills overlooking the city.
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