United Nations envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed (2nd L) is greeted by a Yemeni foreign ministry official upon his departure at Sanaa airport following a visit to Sanaa, Yemen November 7, 2016.

UN envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Al-Cheikh Ahmed has accused Yemeni warring sides of obstructing the possibility of reaching a political solution before leaving the capital Sanaa, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.

Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who arrived in Sanaa on Thursday to start negotiating with the Iran-backed Houthis, has now left on Monday to Riyadh to meet with the internationally recognized government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

Meanwhile, a Houthi delegation headed by Mohammed Abdulsalam has arrived in the Omani capital Muscat on Monday after meeting with the UN envoy.

Abdulsalam said he gave the UN envoy his remarks on the latter’s proposed UN plan, describing his input as constructive in achieving peace and stability in Yemen.

Last month, Ould Cheikh Ahmed put forward a peace plan aimed at ending fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and forces loyal to Hadi.

Hadi rejected the UN proposal and the Houthis accepted it as a “basis for discussion.”

Meanwhile, Abdulsalam said he considered Muscat as the first meeting point for international sides to congregate to chart a road map to end the dire economic and humanitarian situation in Yemen.

Hadi, however, reiterated his commitment over what was previously agreed on in the UN Security Resolution 2216 to restore legitimacy in the country, describing the proposed road map as explosive and offers the potential for a new conflict in the country.

On the ground, Arab Coalition forces have fended off five ballistic missiles launched from Yemen’s Maarib province by the Houthis.

Clashes also renewed between Hadi forces and the Houthis in Al-Jawf province’s Al-Ghayl district, while the Arab Coalition’s air strikes pounded the area, killing 12 militias.

Confrontations also took place in Hajjah, Taiz, and Shabwah provinces, and Naham region northeast of Sanaa.

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