Renegade Yemeni troops who have helped Shiite rebels to seize much of the country said on Sunday that they had accepted a Saudi proposal for a ceasefire later this week.

"Following mediation from friendly countries to establish a humanitarian truce that would end the tyrannical blockade and permit commercial ships to reach Yemeni ports and allow humanitarian aid in, we announce our agreement to the humanitarian truce," spokesman Colonel Sharaf Luqman told the rebel-controlled Saba news agency.

There was still no word from the rebels themselves on any acceptance of the proposal by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir for a five-day ceasefire starting from Tuesday.