SHARM EL-SHEIKH (Sputnik) — The conflicting sides in Yemen have approached Russia asking for help in resolving the conflict; Moscow advocates seizing hostilities in the country, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said Saturday.
“We maintain contacts with all Yemeni sides, with President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, with former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and, naturally, with Houthis and of course they approach us, for us to aid the settlement [of their conflict],” Bogdanov, who is also Russian President's Special Representative for Africa and the Middle East, said. He added that Moscow calls on all the sides to Yemeni conflict to cease hostilities
The situation in Yemen has been rapidly deteriorating since August 2014 when protests of the Shiite Houthi opposition swept the country, leading to the resignation of the country’s elected government and president.
According to the estimates by Human Rights Watch, the attack has claimed up to 34 lives of civilians.
Russian President's Special Representative for Africa and the Middle East Bogdanov is currently taking part in the Arab League summit in Egypt’s city of Sharm El-Sheikh. The two-day summit that started on Saturday is focused on discussing the recently intensified Yemen crisis. Earlier on Saturday, Bogdanov had a meeting with Yemeni Foreign Minister Riyadh Yassin.
