Saudi announces Yemen humanitarian ceasefire

Sanaa: Saudi Arabia Friday announced a humanitarian ceasefire in Yemen starting May 12, even as it stepped up retaliatory air strikes on Huthi rebels in the north of the country.

"We have made a decision that the ceasefire will begin this Tuesday, May 12, at 11:00 pm and will last for five days subject to renewal if it works out," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a meeting of Gulf ministers in Paris.

Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition have focused their fire since Thursday on rebels in their northern stronghold after Riyadh vowed "harsh" punishment for deadly cross-border bombardments.

On the humanitarian front, the UN children´s agency warned that restrictions on delivering food and fuel are hampering aid efforts and threaten the lives of tens of thousands of Yemeni children.

"The ceasefire will end should Huthis or their allies not live up to the agreement -- this is a chance for the Huthis to show that they care about their people and they care about the Yemen people," Jubeir said at a joint news conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Raids on Thursday targeted rebel control centres, a communications complex, a landmine factory and other rebel positions across Saada province bordering Saudi Arabia, state media in Riyadh said.

Witnesses in Saada said coalition jets dropped leaflets urging residents to leave and an AFP correspondent in Sanaa reported scores of families arriving in the capital. (AFP)