US, others express hope for Yemen cease-fire in next days

US Secretary of State John Kerry, left, is greeted by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson ahead of a meeting on the situation in Syria, at Lancaster House in London, Sunday Oct. 16, 2016. Renewed international efforts to solve the conflict in Syria, heightened by the plight of people in the city of Aleppo, have made little progress but more talks are planned. ( JUSTIN TALLIS / Pool via AP) (The Associated Press)

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, left, is greeted by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson ahead of a meeting on the situation in Syria, at Lancaster House in London, Sunday Oct. 16, 2016. Renewed international efforts to solve the conflict in Syria, heightened by the plight of people in the city of Aleppo, have made little progress but more talks are planned. ( JUSTIN TALLIS / Pool via AP) (The Associated Press)

The United States and Britain are expressing hope that a cease-fire can be reached in Yemen in the coming days.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says mediation is ongoing involving Yemen's exiled, internationally recognized government and the Houthi rebels who control much of the country.

Kerry says: "This is the time to implement a cease-fire unconditionally and then move to the negotiating table."

His message Sunday was supported by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and the U.N. envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.

Kerry says they want the truce "''as rapidly as possible, meaning Monday, Tuesday."

Their meeting in London also included the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, which has led a military coalition against the Houthis.