UN envoy meets with Yemen’s president in Aden

SANAA, Yemen – Yemen’s news agency says a U.N. envoy has met with President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in the southern city of Aden in an effort to revive peace negotiations with Shiite rebels.

SABA quoted U.N. envoy Martin Griffiths as saying he discussed “the humanitarian side in Yemen and the release of all captives and detainees from all parties” at Tuesday’s meeting.

Griffiths met with the leader of the rebels, known as Houthis, in Sanaa last week.

He has been seeking to avert a bloodbath in the rebel-held port of Hodeida, where a Saudi-led coalition allied with the government has paused a major offensive launched last month. The port is a vital lifeline for food and medicine.

Yemen’s government has demanded the Houthis withdraw from all areas under their control.