UN announces agreement on 72-hour Yemen cease-fire

The warring parties in Yemen have agreed to a 72-hour cease-fire which is to take effect shortly before midnight on Wednesday, the UN special envoy to Yemen announced on Monday.

A UN statement said Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed "welcomes the restoration of the Cessation of Hostilities, which will spare the Yemeni people further bloodshed and will allow for the expanded delivery of humanitarian assistance."

Ahmed said he had received assurances from all Yemeni parties to cease hostilities at 23:59 Yemen time on October 19 "for an initial period of 72 hours, subject to renewal."