Yemen Govt & Houthi Representatives Start Meeting in Amman on Opening Roads in the Besieged City of Taiz

Representatives from Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels met today in Amman to discuss opening roads to the seven-year besieged city of Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, according to the Office of the Special Envoy of Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESGY).

“The meeting between Government of Yemen & Ansar Allah representatives on opening roads in Taiz & other governorates as per the truce agreement starts today in Amman under the auspices of the UN Envoy for Yemen,” the OSESGY tweeted.

The meeting comes amid efforts by the UN to extend a two-month cease-fire agreement that came into effect on April 2.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Taiz calling for an end to the siege of Taiz which has been imposed by the Houthis since the outbreak of the war.

The UN-sponsored truce included the resumption of flights from the rebel-held capital, Sana’a, and allowing fuel imports into Houthi-controlled ports.

The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said separate talks would be held between the legitimate government and the Houthis to open roads in Taiz.

“We want to support the parties in setting them on a path that would take Yemen out of a cycle of violence that has severely restricted people’s freedom of movement for more than seven years,” Grundberg said today.

“The parties are fulfilling a commitment they made under the Truce to work on an agreement that will reduce the suffering of Yemenis in Taiz & other governorates. The success of this meeting to reopen roads will be a collective victory for Yemen,” he added without revealing further details on the talks.