Yemen's warring sides agree to prisoner swap as peace talks open
(VOVWORLD) - Yemen’s recognised government and the Houthi rebels have signed an agreement to a massive prisoner swap during a peace talk in Sweeden, UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths announced Saturday.
 Yemeni and Houthi delegates attend the opening press conference on UN-sponsored peace talks for Yemen at Johannesberg castle, in Rimbo, Sweden Dec. 6, 2018 (Photo: Reuters) |
Abdul-Majid al-Hanash, a Houthi delegate, said the Houthis are willing to release their prisoners if the Yemeni government agrees to do the same. The Houthis will provide a list of the dead and imprisoned to the Yemeni government, he said, adding that they want the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to oversee the exchange. The Houthis said their prisoners are mostly foreigners, some of whom are Saudi Arabian.
Initially, the Yemeni government suggested releasing 200 prisoners from each side, but the Houthis wanted everyone to be freed.