US Secretary Pompeo, Saudi Crown Prince Seek Compliance With Yemen Cease Fire Agreement

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed to press compliance with a Yemen cease fire agreement in which the country's government and rebels agreed to withdraw from Red Sea ports needed to import vital humanitarian aid, the Department of State said in a press release on Wednesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th March, 2019) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed to press compliance with a Yemen cease fire agreement in which the country's government and rebels agreed to withdraw from Red Sea ports needed to import vital humanitarian aid, the Department of State said in a press release on Wednesday.

"The Secretary and the Crown Prince agreed on the need for parties to adhere to the agreements made in Sweden," the release said. "The Secretary and the Crown Prince also discussed human rights issues and broader developments in the region."

In December, Yemen's government and Houthi rebels agreed in Stockholm to withdraw forces from Red Sea trade zones, such as the port of Al Hudaydah, which provide the nation access to outside aid.

The Trump administration faces growing pressure from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress to end US support and weapons sales to a Saudi-led coalition that backs Yemen's government with airstrikes against Houthi rebels.

Apart from mounting civilian casualties and famine facing much of the country, US lawmakers are angered over the Trump administration's continued embrace of bin Salman, whom US intelligence officials blame for the October murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.