GENEVA
Yemeni government officials and Houthi fighters have failed to reach a cease-fire agreement during UN sponsored peace talks in Geneva.
"Let's be clear about that, there was no agreement, I will not beat around the bush," UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said at a press conference in Geneva following five days of peace talks.
However, he still hoped that a deal would be reached in the coming days.
"l believe it is matter of time. We can achieve this (cease-fire) in the coming days," said Ahmed, adding: "There is no doubt there is a ground ready to declare a cease-fire accompanied by withdrawal".
About the possible second round of talks, he said: "We are hoping for a cease-fire before second round of talks".
The UN-sponsored Yemen talks kicked off Monday in Geneva and ended on Friday.
"It is important to achieve as quickly as possible a humanitarian truce, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, the month of forgiveness and mercy. I will make every effort, indeed I will double my efforts in the next few days, to achieve that," Ahmed added.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian-Yemeni border witnessed an escalation in fighting between Houthis and Saudi Arabian forces
The Houthis claimed late Thursday that they bombed a military base in Saudi Arabia's southern Jizan province, according to the Yemeni al-Masirah TV channel.
On March 25, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched an extensive air campaign targeting positions belonging to the Houthi group, which seized control of capital Sanaa in September and sought to extend its influence to other provinces.
Riyadh says its campaign comes in response to appeals by Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi -- who is in Saudi Arabia -- for military intervention against Houthi militants.
The Houthis, however, denounce the offensive as unwarranted “Saudi-American aggression” against Yemen.
