From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Sun Aug 30 2009 - 16:19:40 EDT
Yemeni fighters seize military tanks
Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:10:55 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20090830/gholizadeh20090830111300421.jpg
A group of Houthi rebels standing on a tank seized from the Yemeni army
Yemen's Zaidi Shia fighters have released footage showing they have seized
military tanks and weapons from the army.
This comes as the army says it has inflicted heavy losses on fighters in the
northern province of Saada.
The fighters, known as Houthis, dismiss the army's claim and say they
stopped troops from advancing in several districts.
Clashes flare up in the north of Yemen after the army launched an offensive
dubbed as Operation Scorched Earth against Zaidi Shia local fighters earlier
in the month.
The government accuses the fighters, known as Houthis, of seeking to
reinstate the imamate rule, which ended in a 1962 coup. The Houthis,
however, say they are defending themselves against religious oppression.
The Houthis say the military attacks mainly target civilian areas.
Yemeni dissent lawmaker, Yahya Houthi, has told Press TV that Saudi Arabia
and members from the Al-Qaeda and Bathists are supporting the Yemeni army.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has warned of a humanitarian crisis in
the Saada province.
According to UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic, Saada city has been
practically cut off from the outside world for more than a week because of
the offensive and the ensuing clashes.
As a result, "the residents, as well as those displaced in Saada city, are
unable to leave," he said. "The state of emergency is still in force. The
markets are closed in the city, resulting in an extreme shortage of food and
other commodities, as well as drastic price increases. Many are living on
assistance from friends and relatives who had been able to store food."
MGH/DT
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----
