GENEVA - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Monday after holding meetings with representatives of the Yemeni government and the Group of 16 plus that "in Yemen's case, the ticking clock is not a time-piece, it's a time-bomb."

"Our goal was to have joint meetings this morning, but logistical issues made this impossible," the UN head said, while assuring that all consultations participants were expected to arrive later on Monday.

The UN-led Geneva Consultations on Yemen, or Yemen Consultations, held in Geneva's Palais des Nations, are the first of its kind to involve the different sides of the Yemeni conflict since hostilities resumed, thus marking an important step as the parties embark on the road towards a settlement.

The members of the "Group of Sixteen" include the Ambassadors of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Egypt and Turkey, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union.

Having attended the initial talks on Monday morning, Ban stated that the meetings had been very constructive, while stressing the "we have a special obligation to act ... and that we don't have a moment to lose." (Xinhua)