Saudi delegation arrives in Yemen to discuss truce

Sanaa: A Saudi delegation was reported in Yemeni capital Sanaa on Sunday to negotiate a potential truce.

An intervention led by Saudi Arabia has been supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government against the Houthi rebel group, which controls the Yemeni capital.

Yemen's government has been at war with the Houthis for eight years.

The AFP news agency cited a Yemeni diplomat as saying that Saudi officials are "in Sanaa to discuss moving forward to create peace in Yemen."

AFP said that Saudi officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Omani mediators also arrived in Sanaa on Saturday.

AFP cited an anonymous Yemeni government source as saying that Riyadh and the Houthis had agreed in principle to declare a six-month truth, which would pave the way for three months of negotiations and a two-year "transition" towards peace.

The Houthi group's news agency, Yemen News Agency (SABA), also confirmed the arrival of the Saudi delegation.

SABA cited Houthi official Mahdi Al-Mashat as saying that he welcomed the two delegations and praised Oman for its efforts to mediate the conflict.

Another Houthi official, Mohammed Al-Bukaiti, tweeted that it was "too early" to say if the negotiations with Riyadh would succeed. He said it was clear that there was an "atmosphere of peace" in the region, giving cause for "optimism and hope."

Al-Bukaiti said that achieving peace between Riyadh and the Houthis would be a "victory for both parties."