Yemeni warring parties agree on pullout steps from port city
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The United Nations says Yemen's warring parties have agreed on the first stage of a mutual pullout of forces from the key port city of Hodeida, a humanitarian aid lifeline that had been blocked by fighting.
A U.N. statement late Sunday said the agreement by the Redeployment Coordination Committee — which includes members of Yemen's internationally recognized government and their adversaries, the Shiite Houthi rebels — came after two days of meeting behind the Hodeida front line.
The two sides agreed in Sweden in December to confidence-building measures, including a cease-fire in Hodeida and the exchange of thousands of prisoners. But the implementation of those deals has been slow and marred by violence.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The U.N. says the Committee plans to reconvene within a week.