President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met on Monday with Yemeni prime minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr in Cairo, as the Yemeni official continued his two-day visit to Egypt. The Yemeni premier delivered a message from the Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to Al-Sisi, in which he conveyed Hadi's appreciation of Egypt's support of the "legitimate government" in Yemen, whether through the Saudi-led coalition or on international platforms. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Shoukry also attended the meeting, as well as a Yemeni government delegation accompanying Daghr. Al-Sisi asserted during the meeting that a long-lasting military conflict must be avoided and negotiations with the Houthis must be continued, under the umbrella of the United Nations, in a bid to reach a political solution to the dispute, a presidential statement said. The two sides also discussed developing bilateral relations. Daghr was received upon his arrival at Cairo International airport on Sunday by Ismail, where he recognised Egypt's support of the legitimacy of the current Yemeni government. "This visit is very important as it comes during a critical time for Yemen and during a turbulent security situation," Daghr said. Daghr is also expected to meet Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb to discuss ways of eliminating religious extremism. Yemen has witnessed increased turmoil for almost 16 months now, following the power grab of the Houthi forces—the Shi'a rebel troops led by Abdul Malik Al-Houthi in the north. The group took over many Yemeni cities and entered the capital Sana'a in September 2014, amid clashes with the state forces, which left hundreds dead, including civilians. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes targeting Houthi forces in several cities. However, those airstrikes widely affected civilians and children and led to the deterioration of public services. At least 6,500 people have been killed over the past two years, including more than 3,200 civilians, according to several observatories.
