Yemen dialogue begins in Saudi Arabia without Houthi rebels
Around 400 Yemeni politicians and tribal leaders launched talks in Saudi Arabia on Sunday on the future of their war-torn country, but the Shiite Houthi rebels who control the capital and much of northern Yemen are not participating.
The meeting came as a five-day cease-fire that has been repeatedly violated was set to expire. The Saudi-led coalition and the rebels have blamed each other for the violations, as fighting on the ground has continued throughout the pause. The Houthis have rejected the main aim of the three-day talks -- the restoration of Yemen's exiled president -- and the location of the negotiations in Saudi Arabia. The absence of the Houthis means the national dialogue is unlikely to end the violence.
