Arab Coalition announces release of 163 Houthi prisoners

Riyadh: The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen has decided to release 163 Houthi prisoners, who acted offensive against Saudi Arabia in a "humanitarian initiative, Arab News reported citing Saudi Press Agency.

The coalition spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said that this release is one among the Kingdom's humanitarian initiatives, aiming to back the efforts to end the crisis in Yemen and restore peace.

He further said that through the move, the coalition also aims to strengthen the efforts brought by the United Nations to maintain a truce. This will create means for a dialogue among the parties involved in the conflict in Yemen. He said that the Arab coalition has started finalising the procedure to release the stated number of prisoners with the joint effort of the International Committee of the Red Cross to transfer the prisoners to Sanaa.

He also said that Saudi was very eager to address and finalise the issue of the prisoners, which was not for political or military gains. The truce, initiated on the first day of Ramadan on April 2, is intact so far.