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| - Omani officials, accompanied by senior Huthi figures, arrived Saturday in Sanaa to try to convince the rebels who control the capital to accept a ceasefire, Huthi sources said. Yemen has been devastated by civil war between the government -- supported by a Saudi-led military coalition -- and Iran-backed Huthi rebels since 2014, pushing the country to the brink of famine. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have intensified in recent weeks. "An Omani delegation arrived (in Sanaa), accompanied by Huthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam and other (Huthi) officials," a rebel source told AFP on condition of anonymity. The Saudi-led coalition controls Yemen's airspace and since 2016 had prevented Abdul Salam and other rebel figures from returning to Sanaa. The delegation's arrival, which would have required approval from Riyadh, demonstrates something of a step forward in negotiations. The Huthis have repeatedly demanded the re-opening of Sanaa airport before any ceasefire agreement. The source said the delegation was to meet with Huthi leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi and update him on talks held in Muscat. The aim of the Omani mediators seems to be "to convince the Huthis to accept a ceasefire and take part in peace negotiations", the source added. Abdul Salam, in remarks carried by Huthi-run Al-Masirah television, said: "We are working to advance arrangements on the humanitarian question as well as the peace process." The visit aims to "complement efforts" made in Oman, he added. The sultanate of Oman, which borders both Yemen and Saudi Arabia, is a close US ally but at the same time has good relations with Iran. It has regularly played the role of mediator in regional conflicts. Muscat has hosted UN special envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths and US envoy Tim Lenderking in recent weeks, while Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with Abdul Salam in Oman in late April. On Monday Griffiths urged rival Yemeni forces to "bridge the gap" to reach a ceasefire, following talks in Sanaa with Huthi officials. "There's an extraordinary amount of diplomatic consensus... there is a real diplomatic energy now, which hasn't always been the case," Griffiths said. The effort to secure peace in Yemen comes after regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran restarted talks in April, holding their first high-level meeting since Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016. The UN says Yemen is suffering the world's worst humanitarian crisis as its years-long war rumbles on, with tens of thousands killed, millions displaced and two-thirds of its 30-million population dependent on aid. strs-mah/aem/lg/hkb
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