Sanaa: Fighting in mountainous north Yemen
between Shiite rebels and army-backed tribes over the past
four days have left at least 49 people dead, threatening a
fragile truce, tribal and rebel sources said on Wednesday.
The major confrontations were taking place in
al-Amsheyah, in the northern Amran province, where the tribe
of MP Sheikh Sagheer Aziz is allegedly besieged by the Huthi
rebels.
"The confrontations between the Huthi (rebels) and the
supporters of the tribal chief Sheikh Sagheer Aziz have
resulted in the death of 20 tribesmen and 10 Huthis," a tribal
source told agency, requesting anonymity.
"Rebels are still besieging the tribe" of Bin Aziz, the
source added.
But the rebels` spokesman, Mohammed Abdul Salam, told agency
that 20 rebels were killed in the confrontations, claiming
that the clashes were with the army and not with the tribe.
"We are confronting military positions. These are not
tribal areas," he said by telephone.
Aziz is a member of the parliamentary bloc of the ruling
General People`s Congress party.
Six MPs have started a sit-in yesterday at the parliament
in support of Aziz, demanding government action to end the
alleged siege.
PTI
