Aden —Yemen’s internationally-recognized government announced Monday it has informed UN envoy Martin Griffiths that it will take part in proposed peace talks to be held in Sweden.

“The government has informed the UN envoy to Yemen... that it will send a government delegation to the talks with the aim of reaching a political solution,” the Foreign Ministry said, quoted by the official Saba news agency.

Griffiths is expected to visit the Yemeni capital within days for talks with the Houthi rebels in preparation for the peace talks.

In its letter, the government called on the United Nations to “pressure the Houthi militias to respond to UN efforts and to come to consultations unconditionally.”

The Yemeni legitimate government demanded that the UN take a “firm stance of any disruption by the militias to delay or not to attend scheduled consultations.”

Griffiths is seeking new peace talks in Sweden in the coming weeks, with support from major powers, notably the United States, Britain and France.

Meanwhile, Houthi militias said on Monday they were halting drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their Yemeni allies, responding to a demand from the United Nations.

The move from the Houthi militias came after the Saudi-led coalition ordered a halt in its offensive against Yemen’s main port city Hodeida.

In a related development, the Arab Coalition confirmed that forces intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militias at Marib on Sunday.

The Coalition’s air defenses last week had also intercepted two ballistic missiles fired by the militias toward the Coalition headquarters in the same province.

UN special envoy Martin Griffiths is trying to salvage peace talks after a round in September collapsed when the Houthis did not show up. He hopes to convene talks before the end of the year in Sweden to agree on a framework for peace under a transitional government.

Yemen’s parties have given “firm assurances” they are committed to attending peace talks to be convened shortly, Griffiths told the UN Security Council on Friday, and pledged to escort the Houthi delegation from Sanaa if needed. — Agencies