Russia Pushes UN to Demand Pause in Yemen Air Strikes

Russia on Saturday presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling for a humanitarian pause in the Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen, now in its 10th day.

Russia called the emergency meeting of the 15-member council amid growing alarm over the rising civilian death toll from the fighting in Yemen.

The one-page text distributed to the council called on the Saudi-led coalition to halt air strikes to allow the evacuation of foreigners, but it did not specify the duration of the pause.

Yemen slid deeper into turmoil after the coalition launched an air campaign on March 26 to stop an advance by Shiite Huthi rebels that forced President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to Saudi Arabia.

Coalition warplanes and ships bombarded Huthi positions in the southern port city of Aden on Saturday and airdropped weapons and ammunition to Hadi's supporters.

The Russian-drafted text made no reference to previous calls by the Security Council for the Huthis to pull back and return to political talks.

Initial response to the Russian initiative was cool.

Jordan's Ambassador Dina Kawar, whose country chairs the council, said council members need "time to reflect" on the text.

The Russian draft "demands to establish regular and obligatory humanitarian pauses in the air strikes by the coalition to allow all concerned states and international organizations to evacuate their citizens and personnel from Yemen."

It expresses "grave alarm" at the worsening humanitarian situation and demands "rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access" to ensure that aid reaches people in need.

Russian Deputy Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov told reporters that the pause would ensure that "when we evacuate people, to make sure it's secure and safe."

Safronkov also rejected claims that Russia was supplying weapons to the Huthis, which are backed by Iran, one of Moscow's friends in the region.

Saudi Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi declined to say whether his country would agree to a pause, telling reporters that while he shared Russia's concern for the humanitarian situation, the "mechanism" for ensuring assistance would have to be discussed.

Red Cross pause call

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Saturday called for an immediate 24-hour humanitarian pause to bring in desperately-needed aid supplies and allow relief workers to reach trapped civilians.

Some 591 people including at least 62 children have been killed and nearly 1,700 injured in two weeks of fighting in Yemen, according to UN officials.

British Deputy Ambassador Peter Wilson said his country supports the Saudi-led military action, but that "the only way out of the crisis is to return to political talks."

Russia's request to halt the air strikes came as Gulf countries were pushing for a separate UN resolution that would impose an arms embargo and sanctions on the Huthis.

That draft text has come up against strong opposition from Russia, which proposed amendments to apply the arms embargo to the entire country and to limit sanctions.

The United Nations is backing Hadi as Yemen's legitimate leader in the face of the Huthi uprising that has plunged the poor Arab state deeper into chaos.

The Huthis seized power in the capital Sanaa in February and last month advanced on Aden, Hadi's stronghold, forcing him to go into exile.

The UN's peace envoy for Yemen, Jamal Benomar, flew to New York this week for meetings amid reports that Gulf countries were demanding that he be replaced.