Summary
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon Monday called for an immediate two-week humanitarian pause in Yemen to mark Ramadan as high stakes talks got underway in Geneva to try and end the bloody conflict.
Ban dismissed fears that the talks would be torpedoed by the non-arrival of an Iran-backed rebel delegation in time for the talks.
The government delegation led by the foreign minister reiterated its demands Sunday night, including that any cease-fire must see the militias withdraw from all territory they have conquered.
The U.N. has described the country's humanitarian crisis as "catastrophic", with 80 percent of the population -- 20 million civilians -- in need of aid.
Other strikes targeted rebels in Amran province farther north as well as Hajja near the Saudi border and nearby Houthi rebel stronghold Saada.
Representatives of Hadi's government had arrived on Saturday for the talks, which had been due to start Sunday but were delayed after the rebels refused to board a U.N. plane that had been scheduled for a stopover in Saudi Arabia.
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