KSA releases 13 Yemeni prisoners in exchange for a Saudi prisoner
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Head of the prisoners' committee in Sanaa, Abdul Qadir Al-Murtada, announces that Saudi Arabia released 13 prisoners and detainees.
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Twelve out of the 13 released Yemeni prisoners at Sanaa International Airport (Twitter/ Abdul Qadir Al-Murtada )
The head of the National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, Abdul Qadir Al-Murtada, revealed that 13 prisoners arrived on Saturday at Sanaa International Airport, upon their release by the Saudi authorities in exchange for a Saudi prisoner.
"We hope that this step will be a prelude to the implementation of the deal agreed upon at the end of this week, God willing," the head of the prisoners' committee in the Sanaa government said in a tweet.
استقبلنا اليوم في مطار صنعاء الدولي 13 أسيراً ومعتقلاً أفرجت عنهم السلطات السعودية في مقابل أسير سعودي أفرجنا عنه في وقتٍ سابق.
— عبدالقادر المرتضى (@abdulqadermortd) April 8, 2023
ونأمل أن تكون هذه الخطوة مقدمة لتنفيذ الصفقة المتفق عليها نهاية هذا الإسبوع ان شاءالله. pic.twitter.com/eX1r6WQcXO
Al-Murtada said on Friday that "the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) informed the committee that the start of the implementation of the exchange deal had been postponed three days from the specified date because the Marib party (the Islah party) was not ready for implementation."
in a statement, a copy of which was received by the Yemeni News Agency Saba, Al-Murtada considered that the postponement is a clear obstruction to the agreement and renunciation of what was agreed upon by all parties.
Today's announcement comes after the arrival of a high-ranking Omani delegation to the Yemeni capital, accompanied by the head of the Sanaa delegation, negotiator Mohammad Abdul Salam, to complete the talks to extend the armistice, after extending its terms and conditions.
Al Mayadeen's sources indicated that the Omani delegation's visit paves the way for the arrival of a Saudi delegation, headed by the Saudi ambassador, Mohammad Al Jaber, to Sanaa, in order to negotiate with the Ansar Allah movement and agree to extend the armistice.
Simultaneously, the head of the Sanaa negotiating delegation, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, confirmed the continuation of efforts through negotiations to end the aggression on Yemen and lift the siege on it.
He added that "We hope that this will be achieved, that the damage will be remedied, and efforts will be crowned with a peace agreement that meets the demands of our dear Yemeni people, from Saada to Mahra."
A few weeks ago, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Geneva reported that Yemeni parties inked an agreement in Bern, Switzerland, on prisoner exchange. Our reporter further added that the agreement includes 880 prisoners from both sides, including Saudi, and Sudanese soldiers, and military commanders.
The Head of the Prisoners' Committee in Sanaa Abdul Qadir Al-Murtada announced that the exchange deal included 706 Yemeni prisoners, in exchange for 181 prisoners of Saudi-led aggression.
The deal will be executed in three weeks, he added, revealing that another round of negotiations will be held after the holy month of Ramadan with the aim of implementing the rest of the agreement.
