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Yemen rebels 'accept' ceasefire | Yemen rebels 'accept' ceasefire |
(20 minutes later) | |
Shia rebels in Yemen have accepted a ceasefire proposed by the government to end months of violent clashes that have killed scores of people. | |
"In response to the call... and to prevent bloodshed, we declare a stop to violence and fighting," said rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. | "In response to the call... and to prevent bloodshed, we declare a stop to violence and fighting," said rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. |
The rebels respected "the republican system and the constitution", he said in a statement sent to journalists. | The rebels respected "the republican system and the constitution", he said in a statement sent to journalists. |
The rebels had accused the government of being corrupt and close to the West. | The rebels had accused the government of being corrupt and close to the West. |
Fighting flared in January after rebel attacks on the army. In February, at least 80 rebels were killed in clashes with government forces. | Fighting flared in January after rebel attacks on the army. In February, at least 80 rebels were killed in clashes with government forces. |
Yemen's government says the rebels are followers of Houthi's brother, Shia cleric Hussein al-Houthi, who was killed in 2004. | Yemen's government says the rebels are followers of Houthi's brother, Shia cleric Hussein al-Houthi, who was killed in 2004. |
In 2006, the government released more than 600 Houthi followers in an amnesty deal. | In 2006, the government released more than 600 Houthi followers in an amnesty deal. |
Yemen has endured a sporadic three-year insurgency that has claimed hundreds of lives. | Yemen has endured a sporadic three-year insurgency that has claimed hundreds of lives. |
The rebels mostly come from the Zaidi Shia heartland in the north of the mainly Sunni country, between the capital, Sanaa, and the border with Saudi Arabia. |
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