Saleh calls for Yemen ceasefire, talks in UAE

Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is close to Shiite Houthi rebels in the country, called Friday for a ceasefire and the resumption of UN-brokered dialogue between warring parties.

In a statement, Saleh urged a "simultaneous" halt in military operations in Yemen by a Saudi-led Arab coalition and by the rebels, and for dialogue to take place in the United Arab Emirates.

All members of the Arab coalition contributed to the operation but "Emirati air forces participated intensively," spokesman General Ahmed Assiri told reporters in Riyadh.