Saudi-led coalition declares 2-week coronavirus ceasefire in YemenThe unilateral ceasefire follows an escalation in fighting between the warring partiesRIYADH - The Riyadh-led military coalition fighting Yemen's Huthi rebels has declared a two-week ceasefire in the country starting Thursday in a bid to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus. "The coalition announces a comprehensive ceasefire in Yemen for a period of two weeks, starting on Thursday," Turki al-Maliki, the military alliance's spokesman, said on Wednesday. The two-week period, which could be extended, was aimed at creating "appropriate conditions" for a UN-sponsored meeting between the warring parties to facilitate a "permanent ceasefire" in Yemen, Maliki added. - 'Litmus test' -The United Nations has repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Yemen to help avert potentially disastrous consequences of the coronavirus outbreak. Last week, the coalition carried out multiple air strikes on Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa in retaliation for the missile strikes.

Source: Bangkok Post April 08, 2020 22:52 UTC