YEMEN’S Houthi rebels condemned Saudi-led air strikes on the country as “genocide” yesterday but said they were ready to talk peace.

Revolutionary Council head Mohammed al-Houthi said that ousted president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi had derailed negotiations by demanding that the rebels withdraw from territory they had captured as a precondition for UN-sponsored talks in Geneva.

“They are putting preconditions to obstruct any talks that could lead the Yemeni people to a solution,” Mr Houthi said.

“Dialogue is the principle to us. There are no objections to talks,” he said, adding: “The coalition is the one that rejects the talks.”

Mr Houthi said the coalition refused to stop its air strikes, which have killed 1,000 civilians and displaced 500,000 since March 26, to allow talks.

“The 69-day assault has pushed the country to disaster,” he said. “Yemen is facing a real genocide.”