Pro-government forces, Houthi fighters exchange war prisoners in Yemen's Taiz

Yemen's pro-government forces and Houthi fighters swapped war prisoners Saturday in the southwestern province of Taiz, a military official told Xinhua.

As many as 118 Shiite Houthi fighters were exchanged for 76 pro-government troops, according to the military source.

But there was no immediate confirmation of the exchange from the pro-Houthi authorities.

This prisoner swap is part of the UN-backed cease-fire agreement that was signed between the two warring sides in April to pave the way for the ongoing talks in Kuwait.

The talks saw Yemeni government officials and Houthi delegates agree to free half of each side's war prisoners during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.

The move was considered as a show of goodwill to end the 14-month war and ease the prolonged humanitarian crisis.

The number of war prisoners both sides want to be released in their submmissions to the UN mediators is around 7,000.

Earlier this month, the two warring parties exchanged 35 prisoners in Taiz through mediation efforts by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Like other major cities, most of Taiz's districts are still under control of Houthi and Saleh forces.

The Iran-allied Shiite Houthis advanced from their far northern stronghold of Saada province and stormed the capital Sanaa and other cities in September 2014, dissolving the Saudi-backed government and ousting President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi on allegations of "corruption."

The Saudi-led Arab coalition air forces intervened since March 2015, vowing to return Yemen's President to power and expel the Houthis from Sanaa. Hadi and his government are still in exile in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.

The civil war has left more than 6,000 killed and 2.4 billion displaced. Endit