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UN chief welcomes release of two Saudi citizens

Xinhua, January 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday welcomed the release of two Saudi citizens who had been held in Yemen since March 2015.

"The secretary-general thanks his special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, for his efforts to secure the safe release of these individuals," said a statement by Ban's spokesman.

Ban feels greatly relieved that "they were released in apparent good health," it added. The two Saudi citizens departed Sanaa on Thursday morning, accompanied by the special envoy.

According to the statement, the secretary-general also expressed his gratitude to Ansar Allah -- the group often referred to as Houthis -- for facilitating the release as an important confidence-building measure, which contributes to the peace process.

He sincerely hopes that this step will be followed quickly by additional releases of prisoners by all sides and the return to peaceful dialogue, said the statement.

Moreover, Ban urged all parties in Yemen and countries in the region to commit themselves to comprehensive and permanent cease-fire in order to enable the rapid resumption of peace talks facilitated by his special envoy, it said. Endi