Saudi-led coalition announces Yemen prisoner swap
Nine Saudis were exchanged for 109 Yemeni nationals who were detained near Saudi border, state news agency says.
Published On 28 Mar 2016
A Saudi-led military coalition said it had completed a prisoner swap in Yemen, exchanging nine Saudi prisoners for 109 Yemeni nationals, Saudi state news agency SPA said.
Monday’s statement did not say which group the deal was made with, but Yemen’s rebel Houthi movement said on Sunday it had exchanged prisoners with its foe Riyadh, as a first step towards ending a humanitarian crisis prompted by the conflict.
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Saudi Arabia received its nationals on Sunday, SPA said.
It did not explain how the Saudis were held in Yemen, though it said the Yemenis held had been captured in “areas of operations near the border of Saudi Arabia”.
Coalition troops have been battling Houthis for more than two years now in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
More than 6,000 people have been killed in the fighting and millions are displaced in Yemen.
Both sides have agreed to a ceasefire at midnight on April 10 before peace talks starting on April 18 in Kuwait.
Source: News Agencies