Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi
© AP Photo/ Jason DeCrowYemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.
Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi gave a letter to UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmed with a government's denial to adopt a peace plan proposed by the United Nations, local media reported on Thursday.

The letter was given during a meeting between Hadi and Ahmed that took place in the southern Yemeni city of Aden, the Saba news agency reported.

The president also thanked the UN envoy for his efforts, adding that the government is ready to take part in the peace process. The plan implied retirement of Hadi and his vice-president in exchange for Shia Houthi rebels' withdrawal from the seized territories.

Ahead of the Ahmed's visit, the Yemeni government called on the envoy to change the plan returning back to UN Security Council resolution 2216 implying withdrawal of Houthi forces from the seized territories without any preconditions.

Yemen has been engulfed in a violent conflict between the government headed by Hadi and the Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah backed by army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Since March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition of mostly Persian Gulf countries has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis at Hadi's request.

Peace talks failed in August after the Houthis refused to support a roadmap proposed by the UN special envoy that involves the rebels laying down arms and the setting up of a unity government. At least 13 million Yemenis are in need of immediate aid, according to the United Nations.