Yemen ex-leader Saleh calls for talks with Saudi

 

Riyadh has been leading a military campaign since March against Houthi rebels, who have been supported by Saleh loyalists.

 

In a speech late on Sunday during a meeting with members of his General People's Congress (GPC) party, UN-sanctioned Saleh said "we will not take part in [future] dialogue ... unless the war ends."

 

GPC representatives attended UN-sponsored peace talks in Switzerland last week. There was no major breakthrough in the talks but the parties agreed to meet again on 14 January.

 

"And if the war ends, we will hold talks with Saudi Arabia and not with the delegate of escapees," he said, in reference to the delegation of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi's internationally recognised government, which was forced into months of exile before returning in September to main southern city Aden.

 

A ceasefire began as the talks opened in Switzerland but was violated daily.

 

The conflict in Yemen has killed more than 5,800 people since the Saudi-led intervention began in March, according to UN figures.

 

Saleh ruled Yemen for three decades and maintained good ties with Saudi Arabia before resigning in 2012 following a popular uprising against his rule.

 

In the speech he offered to "cooperate" with the Houthis to convince them to hold talks with the neighbouring kingdom.