Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on the United States to halt strikes against Yemen's Houthis, during a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday.
During the phone talks, Rubio informed Lavrov of the U.S. decision to launch a military operation against the Houthi forces in Yemen, according to a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia on Sunday.
Lavrov stressed the need for all parties to immediate cease the use of force and engage in political dialogue so as to find a solution that would prevent further bloodshed, the ministry said.
The phone conversation came after U.S. warplanes on Saturday night launched airstrikes on several Houthi sites in Yemen's capital Sanaa and the northern province of Saada, resulting in at least 31 deaths and 101 injuries.
Lavrov and Rubio, during their phone talks, also discussed specific aspects of implementing the mutual understanding reached at the meeting between senior Russian and U.S. officials in Riyadh on February 18. The two officials agreed to maintain contact, said the press release.
Russia urges US to halt Yemen strikes
A dozen people have been arrested following a devastating fire at a nightclub in North Macedonia that claimed 59 lives, with investigations at the site still ongoing, local officials said on Monday.
The fire broke out at the nightclub in Kocani Municipality in the early hours of Sunday morning, killing 59 people and injuring 163, including 45 in critical condition.
North Macedonia's Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said on Monday that those arrested include managers, security personnel and ticketing staff at the nightclub.
The Mayor of Kocani Municipality, Ljupco Papazov, announced his resignation following the tragedy and expressed his willingness to be investigated.
Preliminary investigations showed that the blaze was triggered by a pyrotechnics display used by a live band who were performing on stage at the club. The fireworks used onstage were brought by the band, and the person responsible for operating them had died in the accident.
Hundreds gathered in Kocani's town center on Sunday evening to silently pay their respects, lighting candles to honor those who perished in the fire.
The small town of 30,000 people is struggling to come to terms with the scale of the tragedy, while North Macedonia has declared seven days of national mourning.
Dozen arrested after nightclub fire kills 59 in North Macedonia
