Delayed Yemen rebel delegation en route to peace talks

A plane carrying a delegation of Yemeni rebels scheduled to attend peace negotiations for their war-torn country are on their way to Switzerland after a delay, a UN spokesman said Monday.

After a layover in Djibouti, the UN plane carrying the Huthi representatives left en route to Geneva for the talks, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The peace talks began Monday, without the delegation, as the Yemeni foreign minister voiced pessimism over prospects of reaching a deal.

Dujarric said the UN had worked to get the rebel group to Geneva on time but "there are issues involving international aviation that are beyond the control of the UN."

Yemen has been consumed by conflict between the Iran-backed Shiite rebels and the internationally recognized government of exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.
Source: AFP