Yemeni president Hadi meets UN envoy

Yemen's president on Thursday met with the United Nations envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar to discuss the effects of the Gulf-brokered peace plan on the country. The officials, who met in the capital Sanaa, also spoke about the UN Security Council resolution on Yemen. Benomar is in Yemen to follow progress in the political settlement, as the US-aided Yemeni army wages an offensive against a rising al-Qaeda presence in the region. The UN official hailed the results of the Friends of Yemen conference held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The conference highlighted the concern of the international community to help Yemen's transition phase succeed, while pledging $4 billion in aid; out of which Saudi Arabia has promised  $3.25 billion to its poorer Gulf neighbour. In return, Hadi expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabia holding the conference, and in assisting Yemen to overcome its problems.