The head of Yemen's new Presidential Leadership Council said on Friday he would end the seven-year-long war via a peace process, in his first speech since power was delegated to the body by the president this week.
"The leadership council promises the people to end the war and achieve peace through a comprehensive peace process that guarantees the Yemeni people all its aspirations," Rashad Al-Alimi said in the televised speech.
President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi delegated power to the council and dismissed his deputy on Thursday, amid UN-led efforts to revive peace negotiations.
Alimi said in his speech the council would work to deal with "challenges in all areas of Yemen without discrimination, without exception".
The council will confront terrorism in all its forms and will work on combating sectarianism "that is alien to Yemeni society," he added.
All Yemenis will live in a modern state of law that will preserve fundamental rights of freedom, dignity and decent living, he continued. This will be achieved through a comprehensive peace process that achieves their rightful goals and ambitions.
Alimi called on the people and all national forces to support the agenda to restore the state, shun division and restore security and stability.
He stressed that the formation of the presidential council was evidence of the people's keenness on ending the war and restoring peace, stability, sovereignty and prosperity.
"We hope the establishment of the council will be a turning point in the process of restoring the state and its institutions and meeting the aspirations of our people," he continued.
He expressed his gratitude to the Saudi-led Arab coalition and United Arab Emirates for their unlimited support to the Yemeni people and government in pursuit of peace. He also expressed his gratitude to United Nations envoy Hans Grundberg and the United States' envoy, Tim Lenderking, for their peace efforts.
He vowed that the council will be fully committed to the Gulf initiative, national dialogue outcomes and international resolutions and laws.
Saudi Arabia announced $3 billion in financial aid to the legitimate government after Hadi's announcement.
Gulf Cooperation Council ministers have expressed their support for the council and starting negotiations with the Iran-backed Houthi militias under UN supervision "to reach a final and comprehensive political solution."
Yemen's warring sides have agreed on a two-month truce that began last Saturday.
The Houthis have since violated the ceasefire on numerous occasions.
Grundberg has expressed his concern over the breaches, tweeting: "I am following very closely the latest developments in Marib and urge all parties to show restraint and their continued commitment to the truce as promised to Yemenis."
The army confirmed 80 Houthis violations on all fronts in Marib, al-Jawf, Saada, Hajjah, Hodeidah and Taiz.
