Yemen ready for truce 'if conditions are met'

(MENAFN- Arab News) DUBAI: Yemen's government told the UN on Wednesday it would agree to a truce to end more than three months of fighting provided key 'guarantees' were met spokesman Rajeh Badi said.
'The Yemeni authorities have informed the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon of its agreement to implement a truce in the coming days' Badi told Reuters by phone from the government's seat of exile in Saudi Arabia. Yemen's President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi the spokesman said had 'set guarantees for the success of the truce.'
These included the release of prisoners by Yemen's Iran-backed Shiite Houthi group including the loyalist defense minister and the Houthis' withdrawal from four southern and eastern provinces where they are fighting local militias.
Meanwhile a military source said at least 30 Yemeni soldiers were killed in coalition air raids and clashes after troops attempted to defect to Iran-backed rebel ranks near the border with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi-led coalition jets intervened when 'dozens of soldiers defected and announced their support' for Shiite Houthi rebels on Tuesday prompting clashes with pro-government troops the source said.
The incident took place at the 23rd Mechanized Brigade stationed near the border with Saudi Arabia and left 'at least 30 soldiers killed and dozens wounded' on both sides he told AFP.
'Armored vehicles and troop carriers were destroyed or damaged' in the air raids and clashes between rival units before the situation was brought under control the source added.