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Yemen truce collapse within hours | Yemen truce collapse within hours |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Violent clashes have broken out between Shia rebels and government forces in northern Yemen, with both sides accusing the other of breaking a truce. | |
A Yemeni military source claims there were many casualties, although there is no independent confirmation. | |
The truce had been agreed to allow aid agencies to help tens of thousands of people known to have fled their homes. | 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, while Yemeni officials say rebels want to take over the country. | |
Hmoud Abbad, Yemen's minister of youth affairs, speaking to al-Arabiya Television, blamed the rebels for breaking the truce. | |
"Those insurgents and terrorists cannot commit to any deal," Mr Abbad reportedly said. | |
Government 'excuses' | |
He added that the government and armed forces had a "responsibility to put an end to those terrorists... and destroy this insurgency." | |
His claim was dismissed by the rebels, who accused the government forces of fighting. | |
Their spokesman, Mohammed Abdel-Salam, said the government was "making up excuses to keep the conflict going," Associated Press reported. | |
The Shia rebellion against the Sunni government began in 2004. | The Shia rebellion against the Sunni government began in 2004. |
In the past three weeks about 35,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Saada province, according to United Nations's estimates. | |
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. | 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. | 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. | In reality, the truce collapsed a few hours after coming into force. |
A senior security commission spokesman told reporters the rebels had broken the ceasefire in the Malaheez and Hafr Sufyan regions. | A senior security commission spokesman told reporters the rebels had broken the ceasefire in the Malaheez and Hafr Sufyan regions. |
Children suffering | 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. |
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which is working with the Yemeni Red Crescent Society in Saada, said the humanitarian situation was steadily deteriorating. | |
It has stressed that it needs unconditional access to civilians in order to help them. | |
UN humanitarian officials have launched a $23.5m (£14.3m) appeal. | |
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. |
The rebels 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. |