The Arab Coalition spokesman, Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri confirmed that there is no way Saudi Arabia accepts negotiating directly with the former Yemeni President, Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Houthi militias.

His statement was a reply on Saleh who announced on a TV Show at “Yemen Al Yawm” that he will not negotiate with anyone but Saudi Arabia.

On the other hand, the legitimate Yemeni government has announced postponing the next round of peace talks that was suggested by the UN Envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh to be held in Geneva, for two extra weeks after the official due date, January 14 because of the Houthis’ lack of commitment to carrying out their promises of releasing prisoners.

Minister of Civil Service and the adviser of the Yemen’s President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, Abdulaziz Jabari, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the UN Yemen Envoy Ould Cheikh has met with the legitimate Yemeni delegation and asked for a new truce during the consultations. He confirmed that the decision is to be taken by President Hadi and added that his party has made a truce in the previous rounds of peace, in coordination with the Saudi-led coalition forces, but the rebels exploited it back then.

Abdulaziz Jabari said that the next round of talks should differ from those in Geneva 1 and 2 because the Yemenis cannot handle any extra procrastination or delay from the rebels.

Nevertheless, GCC Secretary- General Dr. Abdul Latif al-Zayani met Saturday with U.N. Secretary-General Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.They discussed the UN efforts for holding a third round of talks between the parties involved in the crisis in Yemen, in addition to the humanitarian efforts made to deliver aid to the people of Yemen.