Saudi Arabia to host talks for Yemeni groups

Saudi Arabia will host talks in its capital Riyadh for Yemeni groups upon the request by the Yemeni president, Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

In a letter to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saudi, Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi urged "our brothers in GCC to continue their constructive role by holding a conference to be attended by all Yemeni political stratum wishing to maintain Yemen's security and stability under the umbrella of the Gulf countries in Riyadh."

In February, Hadi fled a house arrest by Houthi fighters, which seized control of Sanaa, to the southern port city of Aden, where he re-established his presidency.

Soon afterward, the United Nations announced it would mediate in a dialogue between the two sides, warning that Yemen was sliding toward civil war.

Hadi has refused to talk with the Houthis unless they vacate the capital Sanaa and move the talks to a neutral venue. Endit