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AP Interview: Yemen peace talks inevitable, says UN official

A Saudi man looks at an army tank being transported, in the city of Najran, Saudi Arabia, near the border with Yemen, Thursday, April 23, 2015. In a stunning development, Saudi Arabia had declared on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 that it was halting coalition airstrikes targeting Yemen's Shiite rebels known as Houthis — a four-week air campaign meant to halt the rebel power grab and help return to office embattled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, a close U.S. ally who fled Yemen. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) A Saudi man looks at an army tank being transported, in the city of Najran, Saudi Arabia, near the border with Yemen, Thursday, April 23, 2015. In a stunning development, Saudi Arabia had declared on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 that it was halting coalition airstrikes targeting Yemen's Shiite rebels known as Houthis — a four-week air campaign meant to halt the rebel power grab and help return to office embattled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, a close U.S. ally who fled Yemen. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

By Associated Press April 23, 2015 1 min read

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) – The head of U.N. operations in Yemen says a resumption of peace talks is “inevitable” and that he expects behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts to bring results in the coming weeks despite continued fighting in the country.

Paolo Lembo, the U.N’s resident coordinator in Yemen, told The Associated Press on Thursday that he expects to see “a conference that will bring most of the parties to the table.”

He says all sides “are aware that there is no other solution” than a political settlement, but that fighting will likely continue for some time.

Shiite rebels pressed their offensive in the country’s south Thursday as a Saudi-led coalition bombarded them from the air.

Lembo says Yemen has been hit by more than 4,000 air strikes over the past month.