Yemen ambassador: UN-led Geneva talks to start June 14; president, rebels both say will go

UNITED NATIONS – Yemen's ambassador to the United Nations says U.N.-led talks on the crisis in his country will begin June 14 in Geneva.

Ambassador Khaled Alyemany tells The Associated Press that the United Nations is expected to officially announce the date shortly.

A previous attempt to hold the talks was postponed late last month after a request from Yemen's government and other parties for more time to prepare.

The U.N.'s new special envoy on Yemen was said to be briefing the Security Council behind closed doors Wednesday.

An aide to Yemen's exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi said Tuesday that Hadi has agreed to travel to Geneva for talks with Shiite rebels who have taken over parts of the country.

The rebels' second-in-command says they also are ready to go to Geneva.