But Mr Benomar stressed this was "a first step in a long road fraught with difficulties" for Yemen.

BBC: Yemen president 'to seek medical treatment abroad'

The boy, thought to be 14, got into difficulties at Moy Road, Cullion, between Derry and Strabane, at about 20:00 BST on Tuesday.

BBC: Teenage boy rescued from sinking sand outside Derry

"I continue to have confidence that the parties in the Middle East, having seen some of the benefits of peace and having glimpsed a different kind of future, will not abandon that, but will remain, with all of its difficulties, on the road to peace, " said U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher.

CNN: Main banner

Meanwhile, Phil Flanders from the Road Haulage Association said lorry drivers recognised that although there would be difficulties, the benefits would make the disruption worthwhile.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Northern Ireland | Hospital plans for Westlink works

All attempts to develop Afghanistan as an agricultural exporter suffer from fundamental difficulties: lack of fertiliser and pesticides, a poor road network, shortages of electricity and cold-storage depots, and only rudimentary packaging.

ECONOMIST: Afghanistan's great purple hope

Several stretches of road were blocked around the county adding to the chaos and some schools decided to close early but pupils experienced difficulties getting home because of the gridlocked roads.

BBC: Norfolk snow disrupts schools and transport