Saudi-led coalition declares 5-day Yemen truce

Riyadh

The Saudi-led coalition that has bombed Shiite rebels in Yemen since March unilaterally declared a five-day humanitarian truce from Monday to allow aid deliveries, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ceasefire will take effect from midnight on Sunday, a statement on Saturday said, with the coalition reserving the right to respond to "military activity or movement" by the rebels.

SPA said the decision was taken at the request of Yemen's President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who has taken refuge in the Saudi capital with much of his government.

Hadi, whose supporters have recaptured most of the southern port of Aden from the Huthi rebels after four months of war, wanted the truce for the "delivery and distribution of the maximum amount of humanitarian and medical aid", it said.

Two previous ceasefires brokered by the United Nations failed to take hold.