http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Yemen announces military operations suspension against rebels [The Source: sabanews,net - 19/09/2009] Yemen's government announced late Friday an immediate suspension of its military operations against rebels in the north-western region of the country and a cease-fire will begin Saturday at noon on the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr holiday and in response to local and international appeals to the government. In a statement, the government said that it would stop military operations in the north-western region of the country if the rebels committed a six points- ceasefire previously announced and stopped the acts of subversion and insurgency. The declaration of the cease-fire was "Based on directives of the political leadership of the country, to confirm what had already been proclaimed by the supreme security committee of the six points for a cease-fire, on the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr holiday and in response to all appeals of Saada-based citizens and international relief organizations, particularly an appeal of the UN Secretary General, to access to displaced people and the war-affected areas". The government reconfirmed the rebel elements must commit to the six points announced previously by it for stopping military operations and preventing bloodshed. The truce conditions are: 1- Full withdrawal from all Saada districts and eliminating all checkpoints from all roads. 2 - Coming down from mountain peaks and ending banditry and sabotaging. 3 - Giving back all military and public equipment seized during battles with the troops. 4 - Establishing the fate of six foreigners, a German family comprising of parents and three children and a Briton, who all available information suggest were kidnapped by the rebels in June. 5 - Handing over kidnapped Saada locals. 6 - Stopping interference in the local government's responsibilities. Al- Houthi rebels have been launching intermittent wars against the troops since 2004 in the northern governorate of Sa'ada, which located close to border with Saudi Arabia. Since then, thousands of people, soldiers and insurgents have been killed in the governorate after the rebel group was founded by rebel leader Hussein al- Houthi. The Yemeni government accuses the Houthi group of trying to reinstall the rule of imams.