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Yemen truce collapse within hours | |
(about 14 hours later) | |
There have been violent clashes between Shia rebels and government forces in northern Yemen, hours after a truce between both parties had started. | |
A Yemeni military source claims there were many casualties, although there is no independent confirmation of this. | |
The truce had been agreed to allow aid agencies to help tens of thousands of people known to have fled their homes. | |
The rebels allege government persecution, Yemeni officials say the rebels want to take over the country. | |
The Shia rebellion against the Sunni government began in 2004. | The Shia rebellion against the Sunni government began in 2004. |
Earlier this week Yemeni authorities rejected an offer of a truce from one rebel group, the Houthis, which it accuses of trying to spread a form of Shia fundamentalism. | Earlier this week Yemeni authorities rejected an offer of a truce from one rebel group, the Houthis, which it accuses of trying to spread a form of Shia fundamentalism. |
In response the rebels originally promised to continue fighting, but as of Friday it seemed a truce had been agreed. | |
One rebel spokesman had told journalists the truce would be adhered to for the sake of civilians fleeing their homes. | |
In reality, the truce collapsed a few hours after coming into force. | |
The rebels "planned an attack on army positions, and the army responded", reports quote an unnamed military source as saying. | |
A senior security commission spokesman told reporters the rebels had broken the ceasefire in the Malaheez and Hafr Sufyan regions. | |
Children suffering | |
More than 25,000 displaced people have been registered by the International Committee for the Red Cross and the Yemen Red Crescent Society since a new government offensive - Operation Scorched Earth - began in August. | More than 25,000 displaced people have been registered by the International Committee for the Red Cross and the Yemen Red Crescent Society since a new government offensive - Operation Scorched Earth - began in August. |
"The dire humanitarian situation is hitting women and children especially hard," said Daniel Gagnon of the Red Cross speaking from Yemen. | "The dire humanitarian situation is hitting women and children especially hard," said Daniel Gagnon of the Red Cross speaking from Yemen. |
UN humanitarian officials have launched a $23.5m (£14.3m) appeal to help the displaced people of northern Yemen. | UN humanitarian officials have launched a $23.5m (£14.3m) appeal to help the displaced people of northern Yemen. |
The latest clashes follow five years of intermittent fighting between the government and the rebels. | The latest clashes follow five years of intermittent fighting between the government and the rebels. |
They say a corrupt Yemeni government, backed by the West and Saudi Arabia, is using security concerns as a pretext for persecuting their community and trying to suppress their version of Shia Islam, known as Zaydism. | They say a corrupt Yemeni government, backed by the West and Saudi Arabia, is using security concerns as a pretext for persecuting their community and trying to suppress their version of Shia Islam, known as Zaydism. |