(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) KUWAIT, June 4 (KUNA) -- The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday condemned the attacks with heavy weapons, including rockets, mortars and artillery on densely populated areas and a popular marketplace Taiz.
"Rocket fire reportedly hit a busy market in the city, according to a statement attributable to his spokesman on Yemen.
"Attacks directed against civilians and populated areas, including markets, are strictly prohibited," the statement noted. The Secretary General underscores to all parties that targeting civilian areas is a violation of international humanitarian law and urges them to fully respect their obligations in this regard. He calls for an independent investigation to ensure that perpetrators are hold accountable.
The Secretary-General continues to urge all parties to the conflict to cease all military activities in accordance with the nationwide cessation of hostilities. He further calls on them to refrain from any actions that could result in further civilian casualties. It is particularly regrettable that Taiz continues to pay a heavy toll in civilian losses despite the cessation of hostilities.
The Secretary-General calls on those participating in the peace talks in Kuwait to negotiate in good faith and urgently work with his Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, to bring a peaceful end to this devastating conflict.
In this same spirit, he also urges the importance of the immediate release of prisoners and detainees.
The Secretary-General expresses his sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured, the statement added.
Meanwhile, the UN envoy said the inhumane attacks on Taiz worsened the suffering of the residents of the city who undergo a humanitarian disaster due to the ongoing conflict.
"The attacks represent a new violation of the agreement on cessation of hostilities reached by the negotiating teams of the Yemeni government, Ansarullah movement and General People's Congress (GPC)," he stressed in a press release following his meeting the delegates to the committee on prisoners and detainee affairs.
"The participants in today's meeting strongly denounced the attack," Ould Cheikh Ahmed said, highlighting the need of a political solution to improve the humanitarian situation and put an end to the conflict. (end) hrz.nma.gb