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| Arabia |
| Yemen violated ceasefire: Houthi fighters |
| 2009-09-20 |
| [Iran Press TV Latest] The Yemeni government has not heeded to a self-proclaimed lull on its five-week operation against Shia fighters in the north of the country, Zaidi fighters say. A statement issued by the office of the leader of the fighters Abdel Malek al-Houthi, on Saturday said government forces, backed by artillery fire and fighter jets, have advanced toward the city of Harf Sufyan in Amran Province. "We were hoping for the government to prove their sincerity by ceasing all fire," it read, adding that despite the violation fighters "will continue to be committed to peace in the area." The Yemeni army on Saturday said that it would suspend its fierce military operation against Houthi fighters in the northern provinces of Saada and Amran for the holiday of Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Yemeni officials say the temporary ceasefire would become permanent if Shia fighters accepted government conditions, which includes Houthi withdrawal from all districts of Saada and mountainous sites and the return of the weapons they seized from the army. The offensive, launched to crush the fighters, has left over 50,000 civilians displaced and UN aid agencies have repeatedly warned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the area. A source close to the government on Saturday confirmed that the fighters have suffered a major blow as the army has targeted Zaidi strongholds in the north of the country. "During clashes in the Malahit district the army managed to set fire to a terrorist vehicle carrying arms," the source added. A similar vehicle, he added, was destroyed on the road from Harf Sufyan to Al Jouf. |
| Posted by:Fred |