U.N. Envoy in Yemen Capital for Peace Talks

U.N. special envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed flew in to Sanaa on Friday for talks with political parties in the war-ravaged country, a rebel-run website reported.

"All Yemeni parties must return to dialogue," he said, quoted by sabanews.net upon his arrival at Sanaa airport.

A United Nations conference due to take place in Geneva on Thursday was postponed, in a fresh blow to U.N. efforts to broker peace in a country where nearly 2,000 people have been killed since March.

Foreign Minister Riyadh Yassin said the government would not take part unless Huthi Shiite rebels withdrew from at least part of the territory they have seized, in line with a U.N. Security Council resolution.

A Saudi-led coalition launched an air war against the Huthis on March 26 aimed at restoring the authority of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who has sought refuge in Saudi Arabia.