Dubai: Iran-backed Al Houthis have told UN Special Envoy to Yemen Esmail Ould Shaikh Ahmadthat they will not surrender their weapons or withdraw from Yemeni institutions and cities, Askar Za’eel, an adviser in the Yemeni government delegation to Kuwait has said.

Al Arabiya reported that the delegation of Al Houthis and forces allied to ousted Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh’s forces have rejected any solution that does not include an agreement on the presidency, the formation of a national unity government, a security and military committee and a complete cessation of hostilities.

Speaking on Saturday, Za’eel said Al Houthis have revealed their true nature to the world by making such unrealistic demands aimed at derailing talks aimed at finding a solution to the Yemen conflict.

He blamed Iranian intervention for their unrelenting demands, saying the decision was not in their hands but in Iran’s.

Despite the negative stance of Al Houthis, Ould Shaikh has remained optimistic about the ongoing peace talks in Kuwait.

According to a well-informed source taking part in the talks, rival parties agreed in principle on Friday to four main points for a renewed truce:

1) Establishing the organisational structure of the truce committees and implementing a ceasefire 2) Setting up field teams on all fronts of each governorate 3) Connecting

all truce committees with one another and 4) Identifying buffer zones on the ground.

Commenting on the development, Mohammad Saeed Al Jaber, Saudi ambassador to Yemen, said the proposal came in response to the growing breaches of the cessation of hostilities.