| Yemen said on Sunday two days of talks aimed at persuading a rebel anti-U.S. cleric to surrender after a week of violent clashes had failed and the government would use force to defeat him. At least 51 supporters of Shi’ite cleric Hussein al-Houthi have been killed by government troops besieging them in mountainous northern Yemen since June 20. More than 50 have been arrested. The Interior Ministry said late on Saturday the government was targeting Houthi because he had set up and trained militia in secret, cut off roads and attacked mosques and preachers in Saada, 240 km (150 miles) north of the capital, Sanaa. Forty-six of Houthi’s supporters were killed 35 wounded in clashes last week with security forces backed by helicopters. A government source said security forces surrounding Houthi had held fire during the two days of talks. But nine of his followers were killed at least two separate confrontations elsewhere in Saada late on Saturday, the source said. Another nine were arrested including his brother Abdulsalam, the government source said. A source close to Houthi told Reuters only five were killed on Saturday. |