The UN special envoy overseeing peace talks in Kuwait between Yemen's warring parties on Monday welcomed "tangible progress" to end hostilities in the war-torn country.

"Reports indicate real improvement in the situation which reflects the parties' commitment to the cessation of hostilities," Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said in a statement at the end of the fifth day of negotiations.

His remarks come a day after he spoke of "significant differences" between the Iran-backed Yemeni rebels and the government delegation who began negotiating on Thursday.

Ould Cheikh Ahmed said that a ceasefire coordination committee and local committees were "exerting extraordinary efforts to ensure the safety and security of Yemenis".

The UN envoy said he was encouraged by these "positive developments" and proposed to the heads of the delegations a "general framework" for the talks to be discussed in the coming days, without giving details.

Since the delayed talks began on Thursday, the two delegations have been unable to reach a common understanding on how to firm up a ceasefire that went into effect on April 11.

The delegations have agreed to appoint two officials, one from each side, to make recommendations on how to sustain the ceasefire, the UN envoy said.

The government delegation has insisted that the truce should include confidence-building measures such as opening safe passage to besieged areas and releasing prisoners.

The Iran-backed Huthis are demanding an immediate halt to air strikes and sorties that a Saudi-led coalition has carried out since March last year in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

Foreign Minister Abdulmalek al-Mikhlafi, who heads the government delegation, described the negotiations as "impotent" and accused the rebels of avoiding discussion of key issues.

Mikhlafi said on Facebook that the rebel delegation had backed down several times on proposals they had made.

The rebels have insisted that no ceasefire can be established without an end to coalition air strikes.

The coalition has said it reserves the right to respond to rebel violations of the ceasefire, with air strikes if necessary.

Both sides also disagree on other key issues.

The government wants the discussions to start with the issue of a Huthi withdrawal from areas they have overrun, including the capital Sanaa, and their surrender of all heavy weaponry.

But the rebels want the political process and the establishment of a national unity government to come first, sources close to the talks told AFP.

The negotiations opened late after the delayed arrival of representatives of the Huthis and allied forces loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

mou-oh/lyn/srm

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