(Bloomberg) -- Yemen Shiite Houthi rebels have set a new condition for partially lifting the siege of the city of Taiz as a part of the truce which went into effect April 2.

In a statement, the Houthi ruling political council said they would not open the main road which links Taiz city with Sana’a and other governorates unless the “militia leave the city,” referring to the government forces which have been battling them since 2015.

“Opening up the Hoban road requires clearing the city of Taiz from armed militias,” the rebel said in their statement.

The fragile truce, which was extended on June 2, is scheduled to end Aug, 2. Another renewal depends on progress on road openings in Taiz. The government already opened up the port of Hodiedah to fuel ships and Sana’a airport to commercial flights as a part of the truce.

The government committee assigned to negotiate with the Houthis on road openings under the UN envoy’s supervision said in a statement that the UN envoy presented them a new proposal for road openings. Previously, the Houthis rejected a previous proposal that the government had accepted. 

The committee didn’t elaborate on the substance of the new proposal. The previous one called for opening a main road and two other branch ones. 

The Houthis later said they will unilaterally open a branch road in Taiz. The government had no immediate reaction.

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