Yemen’s Shiite rebels backed out of U.N.-brokered peace talks just hours before the negotiations were to start Monday in Kuwait, demanding the Saudi-led coalition abide by the weeklong cease-fire and halt airstrikes against them. Officials from the internationally-recognized government hit back and accused rebels of violating the cease-fire deal by shelling the war-torn city of Taiz. It was not immediately clear if the negotiations were completely scuttled. A statement issued on behalf of the U.N. envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, described the Kuwait talks as “delayed” and gave no details on when they might resume. “We are working to overcome the latest challenges and ask the delegations to show good faith, participate in the talks in order to reach a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Yemen,” the envoy said. […]