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18:00 GMT
RIYADH, July 22 (KUNA) -- The Yemeni government on Sunday handed written replies to proposals by UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffith over the current situation in Yemen's Al-Hodeida City.
Letters were delivered by Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmad Obaid bin Daghr to the UN envoy in reply to the proposals he had presented to Yemeni President Abd Rabbou Mansour Hadi during his recent visit to Aden, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
In his replies, bin Daghr reiterated his government's commitment to fair and comprehensive peace in line with relevant references and Iran-backed Houthi militias' commitment to withdraw from the capital Sanaa, and other cities.
He called on Houthi militias to show goodwill before the start of any future consultations, by freeing all prisoners of war and abductees, and allowing humanitarian and relief access to all governorates.
Obviously, the current crisis in Yemen is mainly due to the coup of Houthi militias against this war-torn country's legitimate government, he stressed.
The Yemeni prime minister also called on the UN to reject the coup, saying that his government has long backed UN efforts to stop the war there.
However, he maintained, the Houthi militias, backed by Iran, failed to be serious about peace efforts and even acted against former UN envoy Ismail Ould Al-Sheikh's good offices.
He urged anew the UN to mount pressure on Iran to stop its interference in the Yemeni affairs, and to give up providing Houthis with weapons, including ballistic missiles.
On his part, Griffith spoke highly of the Yemeni government's efforts to reach a political solution to the Yemeni conflict, and voiced satisfaction with the Yemeni premier's peace ideas.
However, he vowed that the UN would immediately contact all concerned parties as part of peace and humanitarian efforts. (end)
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