Parties to Yemeni Conflict Agree to Release Prisoners After Ceasefire

Participants of the intra-Yemeni direct talks agreed on Sunday on the mechanism for the release of prisoners, lifting of a blockade and the delivery of humanitarian assistance, as well as establishing a committee to de-escalate the conflict with the UN support, the UN special envoy for Yemen said.

BERN (Sputnik) — "The parties agreed to develop a package of confidence-building measures including a mechanism for the release of prisoners which will include a release of all detainees and prisoners once a permanent ceasefire is in place," Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed told journalists.

The negotiators also agreed to "establish a Co-ordination and De-escalation Committee consisting of military advisors from both sides, facilitated by the United Nations."

All forms of blockade are due to be lifted under the agreement to "allow safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian supplies to all affected governorates, including Taizz."

The UN special envoy also added that the sides had agreed to develop a framework of the reconciliation talks based on the Resolution 2216 of the UN Security Council.

The resolution envisages Houthi military forces' withdrawal from the country’s capital Sanaa.