Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed "is deeply concerned at the numerous reports of violations of the cessation of hostilities," his office said in a statement issued late yesterday.
The comment came after Yemen's ceasefire, which took effect on Tuesday, appeared to have collapsed as government forces seized two towns from rebels and their Saudi-led Arab coalition allies accused insurgents of escalating the conflict by firing ballistic missiles.
The special envoy "urges all parties to respect this agreement and allow unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the most affected districts of Yemen," the statement said.
The discussions "focused mostly on security issues in Yemen, in light of the alarming developments on the ground," it said, stressing that both sides had "renewed their commitment for a ceasefire."
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"A coordination and de-escalation committee was created to strengthen adherence to the cessation of hostilities," the statement said.
Yesterday, the two sides in the talks had hinted the discussions were struggling, with a member of the government delegation telling AFP that the opposing rebel delegation failed to show up for a scheduled joint meeting.
But the rebels insisted they had not pulled out of the talks.
And Ould Cheikh Ahmed's office said both "bilateral and group consultations" would continue today "to build on what was agreed upon in previous days and continue efforts to find an urgent political resolution to the crisis in Yemen."
The UN announced a first breakthrough in the talks Thursday, saying the sides had agreed to "allow for a full and immediate resumption of humanitarian assistance" in the flashpoint Yemeni city of Taez. Also on Thursday, pro-government forces and rebels completed an exchange of hundreds of prisoners in the southern province of Lahj.