Yemen Tense as Shaky Truce Takes Hold
by VOA News January 19, 2015
Yemen's government and Houthi rebels have declared a cease-fire, which appeared to be taking hold in the capital Sana'a after a day of sporadic fighting.
A cease-fire was agreed upon during a meeting of representatives of the Huthi militia and the Yemen defense and interior ministers.
The clashes Monday appeared to start with a Houthi attack on the prime minister's convoy as it left the presidential palace. Prime Minister Khaled Bahah was not hurt.
Witnesses reported that heavy gunfire and explosions followed, sending civilians fleeing from the area. Officials said at least three people were killed.
There were conflicting reports that rebels were in control of the building housing the state news agency, Saba, and state television.
Residents near the presidential palace confirmed that the fighting had subsided by late Monday.
Yemen's official government spokesperson, Information Minister Nadia al-Saqqaf, insisted a cease-fire had been agreed upon but said the situation is still fluid.
Saqqaf said a solution to the conflict has been reached in principle, but details still need to be worked out and enforced.
International concern
The clashes raised international concern, with the Arab League and the British and U.S. embassies calling for an immediate end to the fighting.
Houthi forces, calling for greater rights for Yemen's Zaidi Shi'ite minority, overran the capital in September, and later signed a deal calling for a new government.
On Saturday, Houthis kidnapped President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's chief of staff to disrupt a meeting on crafting a new constitution.
Yemen has been wracked by internal divisions as the Houthi movement has spread beyond its traditional rebellion in the north, separatists continue to press their cause in the south, and al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula claims attacks both at home and abroad, most recently on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris earlier this month.
Edward Yeranian contributed to this report from Cairo. Some material for this report came from Reuters and AFP.
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