Arab League Secretary General Nabil el Araby welcomed strenuous efforts exerted by the UN, international relief bodies and all Yemeni parties to set free a large group of political prisoners in Yemen.

In a statement on Monday, Araby said this move is a major step towards confidence-building between the two sides, hoping that humanitarian efforts will continue to release all political prisoners in Yemen.

The AL official hoped this step will have a positive impact on ongoing negotiations between the two parties in Kuwait.

He also lauded efforts exerted by UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed to render the political process in Yemen successful, urging the international community to unify efforts to end the conflict in Yemen. 

Earlier in the day, tribal mediation efforts managed to finalize a prisoner swap deal to between the Yemeni Armed Forces and Houthi militants and former Yemeni president Abdullah Saleh supporters.

Under the deal, the two sides exchanged 15 pro-government fighters and 15 Houthis in the northeast province of Jawf, according to local sources. 

Masirah TV said that 276 prisoners held by Houthis, including 200 prisoners in Beida province, were released on the occasion of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Source: MENA