Yemen's Houthis won't abandon peace efforts over U.S. designation, says chief negotiator

FILE PHOTO: Mohamed Abdulsalam, spokesman of the Houthi movement, looks on before a meeting with U.N. special envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed (not pictured) in Sanaa, Yemen July 14, 2016. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/File Photo

RIYADH (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthi movement will not walk away from peace talks with the United Nations and Saudi Arabia despite the U.S. decision to designate the Iran-aligned group as a foreign terrorist organisation, the Houthi chief negotiator told Reuters.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the designation, which will trigger sanctions against the movement and three of its leaders, will come into effect on Jan. 19 at the end of the Trump administration's term.