- Title: YEMEN-SECURITY/PROTEST Pro-Houthi crowds denounce Saudi-led air strikes
- Date: 12th August 2015
- Summary: SANAA, YEMEN (AUGUST 11, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WOMEN PRO-HOUTHI PROTESTERS GATHERING IN FRONT OF THE U.N OFFICE IN SANAA VARIOUS OF PRO-HOUTHI RALLY ON AIRPORT STREET, HOLDING BANNERS SHOUTING SLOGANS ARMED HOUTHI, PROTESTERS GATHERING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HOUTHI LEADER IBRAHIM AL OBAIDI, SAYING: "Today we came out in rejection of colonialism, in rejection of the siege. We will continue preparation and implementation of strategic options soon." PRO-HOUTHI PROTESTER HOLDING WEAPONS, GATHERING AND SHOUTING SLOGANS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HOUTHI LEADER, KHALED AL MADANI, SAYING: "Our presence here today is confirmation that we remain steadfast and we will never retreat from our decisions and our positions and we will stand against this new colonialism." HOUTHI PROTESTERS GATHERING VARIOUS OF PRO-HOUTHI PROTESTERS GATHERING AND CARRYING WEAPONS VARIOUS OF HOUTHI SECURITY VEHICLES
- Embargoed: 27th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Yemen
- Country: Yemen
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA967CX478SGD5EHUYHT6P97C55
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Pro-Houthi crowds took to the streets of Sanaa on Tuesday (August 11) to protest against the Saudi-led coalition air strikes aimed at ousting the Iran-backed rebels in the war-torn country.
The conflict has plunged Yemen, already the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, into a dire humanitarian crisis, with millions facing severe food, fuel and medicine shortages.
In recent weeks, the Sunni-Arab coalition and troops loyal to exiled President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi, have gained ground, forcing the Houthis out of several major towns and cities in the south and centre of the country.
"Today we came out in rejection of colonialism, in rejection of the siege. We will continue preparation and implementation of strategic options soon," said one Houthi leader, Ibrahim Al Obaidi, at the all male protest in the capital Sanaa.
On Tuesday, local tribal fighters loyal to Hadi advanced into the central city of Ibb, home to around 200,000 people. They also have control over the port city of Aden.
"Our presence here today is confirmation that we remain steadfast and we will never retreat from our decisions and our positions and we will stand against this new colonialism," said another Houthi leader at the protest, Khaled al Madani.
In a separate part of town, all-female protesters took to the streets in front of the United Nations building denouncing Saudi Arabia and its coalition air strikes.
Yemen has been torn by over four months of civil war between supporters of its exiled government and the Houthis, who hold the capital Sanaa and much of the north.
A Gulf Arab military alliance intervened in late March just as the Iran-allied Houthis entered the southern port of Aden and appeared poised to capture the last bastion of resistance to what they view as a revolution against corrupt officials.
The coalition is keen to repel perceived influence by arch-rival Iran on the Arabian peninsula.
Yemen's government, driven into exile in Saudi Arabia, has been cheered by a series of important victories by southern fighters since Aden was retaken last month with the help of heavy Arab air strikes and weapons deliveries.
Clashes with Houthi forces also raged on Tuesday in the central provinces of al-Bayda and Shabwa, where local militiamen appeared to be gaining the upper hand backed by warplanes from Gulf states bombing from the air.
Exiled officials have pledged to gradually resume their presence on Yemeni soil, beginning from their newly-won base in the south. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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