Almost a month of prisoner exchange talks between Yemeni officials and Houthi rebel representatives in Amman ended on Sunday without results, a UN official said.
UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths said he was “disappointed” the talks did not end with the release of 300 prisoners, for which the two sides have been negotiating at meetings in Jordan’s capital.
Thousands of Yemenis are in jail or have vanished in the seven-year civil war, although more than 1,000 prisoners were released in November last year after a deal in Montreux, Switzerland.
Mr Griffiths, whose office is in Amman, urged the two sides to remain part of a prisoner exchange process supervised by the UN and the Red Cross, and to “expand the arrangements to release more detainees soon”.
“I reiterate my call for the unconditional release of all sick, wounded, elderly and children detainees, as well as detained civilians, including women and journalists,” he said.
The main conflict is between the internationally recognised Yemeni government and other forces in a Saudi-led coalition against the Iran-backed Houthis, who overran the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.
The focus of the talks was on journalists and very sick people, as well as senior pro-government figures captured by the Houthis.
Among them are Naser Mansur Hadi, who is the brother of Yemeni President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, and former defence minister Brig Mahmoud Al Subaihi.
There was no immediate reaction from either side.
Abdel Qader Al Murtada, head of the Houthi delegation, said he had hoped before the talks for “success for this round and the release of the largest number of prisoners from all sides”.
Several prisoner swaps have concluded, with the Montreux deal the first under the 2018 Stockholm peace agreement.
Both sides had submitted lists with the names of 15,000 detainees they wanted freed and accused each other of delays.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The five pillars of Islam
Paris%20Agreement
%3Cp%3EArticle%2014%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E1.%20%5BThe%20Cop%5D%20shall%20periodically%20take%20stock%20of%20the%20implementation%20of%20this%20Agreement%20to%20assess%20the%20collective%20progress%20towards%20achieving%20the%20purpose%20of%20this%20Agreement%20and%20its%20long-term%20goals%20(referred%20to%20as%20the%20%22global%20stocktake%22)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20%5BThe%20Cop%5D%20shall%20undertake%20its%20first%20global%20stocktake%20in%202023%20and%20every%20five%20years%20thereafter%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
