Sisi and Yemeni presidential envoy discuss the conflict-torn country's developments

Saturday 23-05-2015 02:37 PM
Sisi and Yemeni presidential envoy discuss the conflict-torn country's developments
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CAIRO, May 23 (Aswat Masriya) - A special envoy of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi expressed appreciation for Egypt's participation in the coalition leading military operations in Yemen, in a meeting with Egyptian president on Saturday. 

Abdallah al-Saydi was received by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, a statement from Sisi's office said. 

A Saudi-led coalition launched military operations against the Houthis in Yemen on March 26, after the Shia rebel movement made advances onto the Yemeni south. 

Saydi and Sisi addressed recent Yemeni developments, in connection with Hadi's announcement that he will not participate in talks between Yemeni parties in Geneva, later this month.

The envoy explained Hadi's reasons behind this decision and said the Houthis have not committed to United Nations Security Council resolutions or to a five-day humanitarian truce.  

Saydi also stressed the importance of the coalition's military operation for both achieving security in Yemen and for securing international maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea.  

Egypt, which is part of the coalition fears that potential Houthi control over Bab al-Mandeb lying between Yemen and the Horn of Africa would affect navigation into the Suez Canal, a strategic waterway which brings Egypt billions of dollars in annual revenues. 

Earlier this month, Egypt's defence council approved a three month extension of deployment of troops previously sent to "protect Egyptian and Arabic national security in the Gulf, Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb" or until the end of the combat mission, whichever comes earlier.   

The Saudi-led coalition, which includes 10 countries in total says it is fighting the Houthi rebels at the request of Hadi, who called for an Arab intervention in his country.   

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