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U.S. welcomes release of its two citizens held in Yemen

Xinhua, September 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

The White House confirmed on Sunday that two U.S. citizens have been freed from the Shiite Houthi rebels' months-long detention in Yemen.

The U.S. welcomed the release which was in the mediation of Oman's authorities, the National Security Council (NSC) said in a statement, adding that the two U.S. citizens have arrived in Oman.

The NSC statement did not identify the Americans or detail the circumstances of their release.

They are Scott Darden, 45, an employee of a Louisiana-based logistics company, and Sam Farran, 54, a security consultant from Michigan, local media reported.

A third American, a 35-year-old, was still being held for unknown reasons, according to reports.

The statement followed reports that Shiite Houthi rebels had released three Westerners it held for months. The other freed is from Britain.

"At the same time, we continue to press for an immediate resumption of the peace talks facilitated by the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen," the NSC said in the statement.

Sources close to the Houthis confirmed to Xinhua that a delegation of senior Houthi officials were expected to meet the United Nations special envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, in Oman.

The Shiite Houthi group has controlled half of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since September 2014. Almost all foreigners have left Yemen after the Saudi-led Arab coalition started air raids against the Houthis on March 26. Endit