The second session of the Yemeni talks in Kuwait was concluded as well-informed sources told Al-Manar that the Saudi-led delegation rejected to confirm the ceasefire, which may hinder concluding a major agreement.

The second session of the Yemeni talks in Kuwait was concluded as well-informed sources told Al-Manar that the Saudi-led delegation rejected to confirm the ceasefire, which may hinder concluding a major agreement.

The UN special envoy for Yemen had described as encouraging the atmosphere of the first day of negotiations between Yemen's warring factions, calling for an end to a deadly Saudi military campaign on the impoverished state.

Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed hailed as “very constructive” Friday’s direct discussions between Houthi Ansarullah fighters and their allies on the one side and Saudi-backed loyalists to fugitive ex-president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi on the other side in Kuwait.

“There was a consensus on strengthening the cease-fire and the two sides were committed to the need to achieve peace and that this is the last opportunity,” he said.

Ahmed further noted that an open-ended ceasefire that began at midnight on April 10 is respected 70-80 percent across Yemen. The truce was announced as a step to calm the situation ahead of the peace talks.

The negotiations had been planned by the UN to open on April 18, but were delayed over accusations of ceasefire violations from the parties to the Yemeni conflict.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the UN official noted that he had contacted Riyadh about its aerial assaults.

The Houthis complained of continuing air raids by Saudi Arabia while the former government side complained of alleged truce breaches by the Houthis, Ahmed added.

The Ansarullah fighters and their allied army forces have stressed that they are observing the truce as an important step towards the success of the Kuwait peace talks.

Meanwhile, Saudi military spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri claimed Riyadh reserves the right to strike if ceasefire violations cannot be resolved.