United Nations, May 21 (IANS): UN-sponsored consultations on Yemen will open on May 28 in Geneva, Switzerland, to restore momentum towards a Yemeni-led political transition process, said a UN spokesperson in a statement released on Wednesday.

While announcing the schedule of the consultations on Yemen, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged all the participants to engage in these UN consultations in good faith and without pre-conditions. He also hoped that "these consultations will help Yemen re-launch the political process, reduce the levels of violence and alleviate the intolerable humanitarian situation," said the spokesperson.

The announcement came as Saudi-led coalition resumed its air strikes against Yemen's Shia Houthi group after a five-day humanitarian truce expired at the weekend, according to Xinhua.

Saudi Arabia, along with eight other Arab states, have been bombing the Houthi group and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26, aiming to reinstate the government of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who was forced to flee the country.

The bloody air strikes, as well as the ground battles between the Houthis and Hadi's supporters, have so far killed more than 1,400 people, while more than 4,000 others were wounded across the crisis-ridden country, according to data released by the Yemeni government.