Riyadh and Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s government-in-exile has called on the UN to form a joint Arab military force to oversee the withdrawal of Houthi rebels from the areas they control across Yemen, officials say.

The demand is part of a package of seven proposals the government submitted to the UN Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in Riyadh this week to ensure the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2216.

The resolution, adopted by the Security Council in April, stipulates Houthis and forces loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh withdraw from the towns and cities of Yemen and put down their weapons.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity, a government official said the force would “monitor and supervise… the withdrawal of Houthi militants and forces loyal to [Yemen’s] ousted ex-president [Saleh] as well as take over control of arms depots.”

The force would finish its work “within a period of no more than two months from the date of its formation,” the official added.

UN-brokered talks between Yemen’s rivals ended in Geneva last month without producing a ceasefire deal with the exiled government blaming the rebels for halting progress towards peace.

Another proposal, the official said, demands that all Yemeni factions, particularly the Houthis and Saleh’s followers, publicly pledge to comply with the UN resolution with no conditions.

The government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi also called on the UN to hold an economic conference that can serve as a basis for a comprehensive plan aimed at returning the displaced civilians to their homes, the source said.

The deployment of an Arab peacekeeping force into Yemen was also proposed by Hadi’s government.

The peacekeeping force is intended to support Yemen’s army and security forces until Hadi’s government rebuilds the military and security establishments in accordance with the principles established by the Comprehensive National Dialogue, the source said.

Separately, Ould Cheikh Ahmed is expected to arrive in Sana’a on Sunday to hold talks with the Houthis and other political factions, including the Saleh-led General People’s Congress (GPC), Yemen’s ruling party.

Informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Houthis will submit to the UN envoy a proposal for forming a “national partnership” government backed by their allies within the southern Al-Hirak movement.

The Houthis, the source maintained, will assure the UN envoy that their proposed government will represent factions from across the political spectrum.

Ould Cheikh Ahmed will also visit the southern city of Aden which has recently witnessed heavy clashes between the Houthis and Hadi’s loyalists.

The current crisis in Yemen began in September when Houthi insurgents took control of Sana’a and started spreading across the country.

The group then staged a coup in February putting President Hadi and other members of the cabinet under house arrest.

Saudi Arabia launched an aerial campaign targeting the Houthis in Yemen in late March. This came following a request for military intervention by Hadi to Riyadh and its Arab partners, after he fled his house arrest and headed to the Saudi capital.

Additional reporting contributed by Arafat Madabish from Sana’a