The Houthis say they are defending their people's civil rights, which the gov't undermined under pressure from Saudi-backed Wahhabi extremists.
My Name
Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:09:02 GMT
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20100105/jalili20100105142130078.jpg
The UN secretary-general has voiced concern about the
humanitarian situation in Yemen, where fighting continues
between Houthis fighters and the Yemeni army.
Ban Ki-moon made the comment in a Monday phone conversation
with the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, his
Spokesperson, Martin Nesirky, told reporters in New York.
The secretary-general also expressed concern about the
presence of al-Qaeda in Yemen, while announcing his support
for the British-led conference that is scheduled to be held
in London later this month to discuss the issue.
"[Ban was] appreciative of the initiative of Prime Minister
Brown and welcomed the focus of the conference on counter-
terrorism," Nesirky said.
"He sought assurance that the President of Yemen is involved
in the preparation of the conference," he added.
The UN secretary-general's comments came as the Yemeni army
continued its attack on the Houthis in northern Yemen, while
also launching several operations against al-Qaeda militants
in the south.
The conflict in northern Yemen began in 2004 between Sana'a
and Houthi fighters. Relative peace had returned to the
region until the Yemeni army launched a major offensive,
dubbed Operation Scorched Earth, against Sa'ada Province
five months ago.
The government claims that the fighters, who are named after
their leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, seek to restore the Shia
imamate system, which was overthrown in a 1962 military
coup.
The Houthis, however, say they are defending their people's
civil rights, which the government has undermined under
pressure from Saudi-backed Wahhabi extremists. Shias, who
form the clear majority in the north, make up approximately
half of Yemen's overall population.
As Sana'a does not allow independent media into the conflict
zone, there are no clear estimates available as to how many
people have been killed in the Shia province of Sa'ada since
2004 or in the recent wave of violence.
According to UN estimates, however, during the past five
years, more than 175,000 people have been forced to leave
their homes in Sa'ada to take refuge in overcrowded camps
set up by the international body.
Of those 175,000, over 50,000 of those refugees left the
war-torn province just in the first few weeks after the new
round of conflict began.
Based on figures released by the UN Children's Fund, the
unrest has directly affected almost 75,000 children as well.
MJ/DT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=115390
Saudi attack rages in Yemen, civilians 'die'
Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:24:13 GMT
Houthi fighters in Yemen said Tuesday Saudi warplanes had
launched several airstrikes on residential areas in northern
parts of the country, killing at least 2 civilians and
leaving several others wounded.
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According to a statement released by the Houthi leader's
office, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, more than 410 missiles were
launched overnight into civilian areas.
The warplanes targeted a market in northern Sa'ada province
and destroyed several shops and residential homes in Al-
Talah.
Several air raids were launched into al-Maran region in
Sa'ada, while a number of villages in Amran province were
targeted.
The fighters, however, said they repelled several attacks by
Saudi forces on Jebel al-Ramih early Tuesday morning.
They said Saudi forces had withdrawn from the area by noon.
They also claimed they had exploded a hummer vehicle
belonging to the Saudi military.
Saudi Arabia joined the Yemeni government's campaign against
the Houthi fighters in November 2009. The fighters accuse
Riyadh of targeting civilian areas far from the Saudi-Yemeni
border.
The attacks have so far killed scores of civilians and
displaced thousands of others.
The Yemeni government claims the fighters are seeking to
revive an imamate that was toppled in 1962. The fighters,
however, say they demand an end to government's social,
economic and political "discrimination" against Shias as
well as Saudi-backed attempts to spread Wahabism - a sect
that preaches controversial and violent actions - in the
northern areas.
According to the Houthis, alongside the Saudi attacks on
Tuesday, Yemeni warplanes launched at least 18 air strikes
on populated areas of Al-Swf, Al-Salam, Al-Shanan and Damaj
in the beleaguered north.
Shia fighters said they inflicted heavy losses on Yemeni
forces as they were planning to attack Harf Sufyan in Amran
province. They also claimed they had exploded five tanks and
left several Yemeni forces killed in the region.
They said joint Saudi-Yemeni aerial and ground attacks
continue late Tuesday.
SB/MD
Related Stories:
UN Chief: Situation in Yemen, worrying
US embassy "reopens" in Yemen
Saudi warplanes keep hitting northern Yemen
Clinton: Yemen threatens region, world
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