Kerry peace bid for Yemen dismissed by government

ABU DHABI — US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that rebels are ready to observe a ceasefire in Yemen starting this week, but the government swiftly dismissed the plan.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels had agreed to a "cessation of hostilities beginning on November 17, provided the other party implements the same commitment", said Kerry.

He was speaking in Abu Dhabi a day after meeting Houthi negotiators in Oman for talks aimed at finding a durable political settlement for the war in Yemen which has killed thousands.

Kerry said the United Arab Emirates and regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia "have both agreed to try to move forwards with this. They believe it makes sense".

Saudi Arabia leads an Arab coalition that has been battling the rebels in Yemen in a bid to restore the legitimacy of the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

But Hadi's government said it was not aware of any new peace initiative.

"The government of Yemen is not aware of the statements made by Mr Kerry and does not consider itself committed to them," said Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdel Malek Al Mekhlafi.

Remarks attributed to Kerry "are a bid to derail peace efforts and a bid to reach an agreement with the Houthis without the government", he said.

The Saudi-led coalition began intervening in Yemen in March 2015, after the Shiite rebels seized Sanaa and swathes of the country forcing the government to seek exile in Riyadh.

More than 7,000 people have been killed and nearly 37,000 wounded in Yemen since then, and the UN says millions are in need of food aid.

Another 21 million people urgently need health services, according to the United Nations.