Saudi Arabia urges Yemeni government to negotiate with Houthis 

Saudi Arabia urged the Yemeni government to start negotiations with the Houthi militia, Report informs, citing Al Arabiya.

The Kingdom on Thursday welcomed the Yemeni president's decision to transfer his powers to a new presidential council, urged the body to start negotiations with the Iran-backed Houthi militia, and said it would arrange $3 billion of support to the war-torn country's economy, state news agency SPA said.

Yemen's president said on Thursday that he has dismissed Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and delegated his own powers to a presidential council that will carry out leadership duties.

The new body will assume the duties of both the president and his deputy, said a statement from President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The new council will carry out political, military, and security duties for the Yemeni government during what it refers to as a "transitional period."