5-day Yemen truce ends with no word on extension

A five-day truce to allow aid into war-ravaged Yemen ended at 2000 GMT on Sunday with no immediate word from the Saudi-led coalition about whether it would be extended.

Reached by AFP shortly before the ceasefire's expiration, coalition spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri declined to say what would happen.

Since late March the coalition had been bombing Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen, who had seized Sanaa and have swept across many other regions, to stop their advance.

The truce was a Saudi Arabian initiative. It largely held, although clashes between rebels and pro-government forces killed dozens across south Yemen on Saturday.

Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmed, the UN envoy to Yemen, on Sunday called "all parties" to recommit to the truce for at least five more days.
Source: AFP