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Yemen offers truce to Shia clans Yemen truce collapse within hours
(about 14 hours later)
Shia rebels have welcomed an offer by Yemen's government to suspend its military offensive in the north if the rebels agree to do the same. There have been violent clashes between Shia rebels and government forces in northern Yemen, hours after a truce between both parties had started.
A statement on the website of Yemen's ruling party said this was to allow aid agencies to help tens of thousands of people known to have fled their homes. A Yemeni military source claims there were many casualties, although there is no independent confirmation of this.
Locals in the Saada region say there has been no gunfire since the ceasefire took effect, AP reports. 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 the latest deal has apparently been greeted with respect. In response the rebels originally promised to continue fighting, but as of Friday it seemed a truce had been agreed.
One rebel spokesman was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that his group would like a permanent ceasefire but would abide by the arrangement for the sake of civilians and those fleeing their homes. 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.