Yemeni rebels halt Swiss peace talks

Yemen's two warring sides say that peace talks in Switzerland have been indefinitely halted after the country's Shiite Houthi rebel delegation suspended all meetings

BY AHMED AL-HAJ

SANAA, Yemen (AP) -- Members of Yemen's two warring sides say that peace talks in Switzerland have been indefinitely halted after the country's Shiite Houthi rebel delegation suspended all meetings with the internationally recognized government in protest at their cease-fire violations.

The officials said on Friday that the Houthis said they would not resume talks unless the U.N. condemned government breaches of the week-long truce. Houthi fighters have also ignored the cease-fire agreement.

Yemen's fighting pits the Houthis and army units loyal to a former president against the government, which is backed by the Saudi-led coalition and supported by the U.S.

On the ground, security officials neutral in the conflict say fighters from both sides are refusing to respect the cease-fire.

All officials spoke anonymously in line with regulations.