Diplomats in the Saudi capital have expressed support for the UN talks between political factions being brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to end the conflict in Yemen.

They were reacting to reports of the continuing conflict in Yemen. Three Saudi soldiers and “dozens” of Houthi rebels were killed Saturday as Saudi ground forces repelled a major attack from inside Yemen.

Gambian Ambassador Omar Gibril Sallah said that his country’s position on the issue is the same as its stand on the planned Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers’ meeting.

The 57-member organization has earlier announced a plan to convene an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of the member states to discuss issues affecting the war-torn country and its people.

The meeting, which will be held on the request of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, has been tentatively set for May 15.

“My country is with the Gulf bloc’s foreign ministers who support the intensive efforts of the legitimate Yemeni government to hold a conference under the umbrella of the GCC secretariat in Riyadh,” the Gambian envoy told Arab News.

He added that a cease-fire could be achieved in the wake of the conference to be participated in by Yemen’s political factions.

Sierra Leonean Ambassador Alhaji Mohamed Sillah Kargbo also expressed support for the position of the GCC. “We support the GCC in brokering the talks between the political parties to end the conflict in Yemen. We also agree that such talks be held in Riyadh,” he said.

Iran wants the peace talks to be held anywhere except in countries taking part in the Saudi-led military campaign against the Houthi rebels.