Yemeni gov't says not interested in Kerry's truce announcement

A tank used by pro-government tribal fighters is seen on a street in the southwestern city of Taiz, Yemen, November 15, 2016. REUTERS/Anees Mahyoub

DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi said on Tuesday his government was not interested in a ceasefire and unity government announcement by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry aimed at ending the country's nearly 20-month conflict. "The government was not aware of nor is it interested in what Secretary Kerry announced, which represents a desire to scuttle peace efforts by trying to reach an agreement with the Houthis apart from the government," Mekhlafi wrote on his official twitter page. Kerry had announced during a visit to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday that parties to the conflict in Yemen have agreed to a cessation of hostilities starting on Nov. 17 and that they intend to work towards setting up a unity government. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in a civil war to back internationally recognised President Abd-Rabu Mansour Hadi against the Iran-allied Houthi movement in March 2015. (Reporting by Reem Shamseddine, writing by Sami Aboudi)