Yemen's internationally recognised government and southern separatists are holding indirect negotiations and are close to reaching a power-sharing agreement, sources from both sides said Monday (October 7th).
The two camps have been for weeks in indirect and discreet talks in Saudi Arabia's western city of Jeddah with the kingdom's mediation, an official from the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) told AFP.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there has been "a lot of progress" in the past couple of days.
A Yemeni government source confirmed that talks between the two parties have been ongoing.
In August, fighting between the two camps -- both of which are battling Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis (Ansarallah) -- opened a new front in the country's war.
But sources from both sides said Monday that they are close to reaching a power-sharing deal.
"The agreement would stipulate that the government return to Aden and that the Security Belt Forces be responsible for security under the supervision of the Saudis," a source informed about the negotiations said.
The source also said the deal would include "the participation of the STC in government".
