United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses a plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on May 27, 2015. (Reuters)
UN chief Ban Ki-Moon opened political talks on Yemen today by calling for a humanitarian ceasefire of at least two weeks to mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan, as well as local ceasefires and withdrawal of armed groups from cities.
"Today Yemen's very existence hangs in the balance. While the parties bicker, Yemen burn" Ban said.
He said that one of the parties, the Houthis, had not yet arrived at the talks but that he expected them later on Monday.
© Thomson Reuters 2015