King Salman says Saudi-brokered Yemen agreement could be step towards wider peace deal

Saudi Arabia's King Salman said on Wednesday in his annual address to the kingdom's Shura Council that Riyadh is seeking a political settlement to Yemen's conflict.

The 83-year-old monarch also expressed hope that a recent Saudi-brokered agreement would pave the way for broader peace dialogue in the war-torn country.

Saudi Arabia recently facilitated talks between southern Yemeni separatists and the country's government, resulting in a power sharing deal between the two groups known as the Riyadh Agreement.

"We hope that the Riyadh Agreement will open the door for larger understandings among the Yemeni factions," King Salman said in his speech.

Saudi Vice-Defence Minister, Khalid bin Salman, met Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said in Muscat last week, which is widely considered to be related to a possible peace deal between Riyadh and Houthi rebels, who rule the northern half of Yemen.

Saudi Arabia and its military allies intervened in the Yemen war in 2015 in an attempt to restore the authority to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi when Houthi rebels took control of the capital Sanaa.

The war has largely resulted in a stalemate between pro-government forces and the Houthis, who still control the country's capital.