Bahrain's Foreign Minister has urged Houthi rebels in Yemen to return to the negotiating table to end a conflict that threatens to tear the country apart.

However, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said any talks must take place in Riyadh between GCC countries and Yemeni representatives - adding there were no plans to appoint a foreign mediator such as Turkey, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

He made the comments as he met parliament's foreign affairs, defence and national security committee at the National Assembly complex in Gudaibiya yesterday.

“There are no mediators and we are asking Houthis and others to return to negotiations in Riyadh to reach a political solution that everyone agrees with,” Shaikh Khalid told the GDN after the meeting.

“The table is for Yemenis and us in the GCC. They (Houthis) have to return to their original agreement, which they signed previously in Riyadh, for us to move forward and reach an understanding.

“Houthis have broken their word, but there are efforts to stop the issue dragging on.”

The minister said air strikes on Houthi positions as part of the Saudi-led Operation Decisive Storm would end if the Houthis honoured previous agreements that resulted in former president Ali Abdullah Saleh being removed and Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi being elected in his place, after a transitional government was formed.

“Before we say that dialogue can't happen as Operation Decisive Storm goes on, let them (Houthis) abide by their agreement and then there will be no operation,” said Shaikh Khalid. - TradeArabia News Service