Yemen’s ex-president Saleh calls for political dialogue

As armed groups continue to battle each other on the streets of Yemen, there are fresh calls for political dialogue. It comes from the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, whose loyalist militias have been fighting alongside Irananian-allied Houthi rebels. Saudi-led warplanes have been supporting fighters attempting to restore the rule of exiled president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. There are fewer Saudi-led airstrikes now, with Riyadh announcing the end of its campaign in Yemen. In the ancient village of Attan, near the capital, people have been assessing the damage. Mohammed Hussein al-Hibari, the village chief, said: “There used to be 75 households here, but after the airstrikes there’s no one left. “This is an historical site, dating back to the Ottoman Empire. But now we have to leave, we are all victims of the airstrikes.” The US Secretary of State says he believes the onus for organising a ceasefire is now on the Houthis and their supporters.