The United Nations opened peace talks Tuesday in Geneva in a bid to find a "durable settlement" to the crisis in Yemen.

U.N. envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed also announced the start of a week-long cease-fire, saying the goal is to make that halt in fighting permanent and "pave the way for a return to a peaceful and orderly political transition."

He said in a statement Tuesday's cease-fire is a critical first step to building lasting peace.

The conflict between forces supporting President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government and Iran-backed Houthi rebels has killed an estimated 5,700 people since late last year.

It was not clear if the Houthis would abide by the halt in fighting.
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