Malek al-Huthi, leader of Zaidi Shiite rebels who have battled government troops in northern Yemen for the past two months, said yesterday he is ready for a “dialogue” proposed by opposition leaders.

“We are ready for dialogue, to respond positively to all national initiatives and to stand alongside all honourable people wanting to save the country from corruption and injustice,” Huthi said in a statement.

Last month an opposition alliance urged Sanaa to halt Operation Scorched Earth, launched against the rebels on August 11, and to promote development in Yemen’s south in order to preserve the unity of the impoverished country.

Huthi did not specifically mention the possibility of dialogue with the government, which accuses the rebels of being supported by Iran, a charge the Zaidis deny.

But rebel spokesman Moham-med Abdessalam told AFP: “We are ready for dialogue with all political parties in Yemen, including the government.” His group would accept “Yemeni or Arab” mediation aimed at a ceasefire.

“We have no objection to neutral mediation,” Abdessalem said, while stressing that it is up to the “government to decide to continue or to halt the war.”

“We will respond to all aggression with the resources we have available,” he said.

An official who asked not to be named said the rebels should meet the six conditions the state has set for a ceasefire, including giving up their weapons, reopening roads and re-establishing government rule in the conflict zones.

“We are pleased the rebels are opening up to dialogue but they must fully comply with the six points set by the government at the start of the war,” he said.