Yemen Meeting Backs Saudi-led Forces, Calls for Safe Zones

A conference of Yemeni political factions on Tuesday vowed support for "resistance" forces battling anti-government rebels, while laying a political foundation for the country's future.

"We support this resistance to go on fighting", exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi told about 300 delegates at the close of a three-day meeting in Riyadh.

He was referring to the battle by pro-government forces against Iran-backed Shiite Huthis and their allies, forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The Huthis, who boycotted the Riyadh talks, have long complained of marginalization in Yemen.

They seized control of large parts of the country, including the capital Sanaa in September last year.

Their southward push forced Hadi and his government to flee to Riyadh and prompted a Saudi-led coalition in March to launch air strikes against the Huthis.

A closing statement at the conference sought the quicker delivery of supplies to pro-government forces including "logistical equipment and weapons."

It also called for a safe zone where government institutions could resume their activities.

The conference attendees suggested an Arab peacekeeping force to secure Yemen's major cities, with U.N. Security Council approval, Transport Minister Bader Ba-Salama told AFP.  

Hadi said "dialogue is the only way to take Yemen out of its deadlock," but added that any talks with rebels must take into account Security Council Resolution 2216, which calls on the Huthis to relinquish territory they have seized.

The April resolution asked all parties, particularly the Huthis, to adhere to measures including the outcome of an earlier "national dialogue" tasked with drawing up a new constitution.

The Riyadh conference was convened by Hadi and held in conjunction with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council.

The final conference declaration spoke of building a "federal state" in Yemen.

The meeting ended a day after coalition warplanes resumed bombing rebel targets in Yemen following a five-day truce to allow urgently needed humanitarian aid into the country.

A Western diplomatic source told AFP that prolonging the military campaign is not in the interest of the Saudis, who want negotiations to resume among the parties in Yemen.

"That's why this conference is so important. It's trying to start a political process," the source said. "It's presenting a plan for the future."

But the U.N. said on Monday that a conference planned for next week in Geneva to re-launch peace talks has been suspended because of the renewed fighting.

Asked at the Riyadh meeting how continued bombing is conducive to the peace process and the delivery of humanitarian aid, GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani said "the question should be put to the others," a reference to the Huthis.

The coalition has blamed rebel ceasefire violations for the resumption of air strikes against them.