Saudi- Hadi to Yemen rebels: Surrender weapons and we ll talk

(MENAFN- Arab News) ADEN: President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi on Sunday urged Shiite rebels to lay down their arms and resume dialogue to end Yemen's conflict as he left for the UN General Assembly.
Hadi called on rebels 'to end their coup surrender weapons ... and return to the dialogue table to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 2216' which demands the insurgents withdraw from territories they have occupied.
Hadi who returned Wednesday to the southern city of Aden after a nearly six-month exile headed to New York where he is to address the General Assembly.
In a letter addressed to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Hadi said: 'I am open to all efforts seeking a political solution.'
Hadi took shelter in Riyadh last March after Houthi rebels allied with forces of ousted president Abdullah Saleh advanced on Aden his last refuge at the time after having escaped house arrest in Houthi-controlled Sanaa.
The rebels overran Sanaa unopposed in September last year and went on to expand their control zone into several regions.
In July loyalist forces backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition evicted the rebels from Aden and four other southern provinces and they have since set their sights on advancing on Sanaa.
In a letter to Hadi King Salman congratulated him on his return to Aden and pledged support to the internationally-recognized president.
'We in the coalition stand firmly with all our strength by your side... to protect your country' King Salman wrote.
The United Nations says nearly 4900 people including a vast number of civilians have been killed in Yemen's conflict since late March.