Warring parties in Yemen have agreed to a ceasefire for the port city of Hudaydah, principal lifeline for two-thirds of the country.

They reached agreement at talks in Sweden brokered by the United Nations.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he hoped this would be the starting point to bring nearly four years of civil war to a close.

Fighting has killed thousands, while the world's worst humanitarian crisis in recent times has afflicted millions.

Leaders of the delegations from the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels, who control much of the country, shook hands after the ceasefire was agreed on Thursday.

All forces from the Houthi rebels and from the Yemeni government alliance fighting them will withdraw from Hudaydah in the coming days.
Mr Guterres said the ceasefire would then take place for the whole of the Hudaydah governorate.

The UN would then play a "leading role" in monitoring the Red Sea port, and would help distribute aid to civilians, he added.

Thursday's agreements could "be a starting point for peace and for ending [the] humanitarian crisis in Yemen", Mr Guterres said.

There is no agreement yet on a truce for the rest of the country, including the capital Sanaa, which is controlled by the Houthis.

Mr Guterres said he hoped for a deal within a week on reopening Sanaa airport.

He said a new round of talks would take place at the end of January on other issues.
AFP.