Clashes continue in Saada [Archives:2005/907/Front Page]

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December 29 2005

SAADA, Dec. 28 ) Fierce clashes are still going on between the government troops and Al-Houthi followers in the northern Yemeni province of Saada.

The government was reported to have used and will use air weapons and other kinds of heavy arms to thwart the attempts of Al-Houthi followers who move toward the Governorate Headquarters to avenge for prisoners, who they say have been subjected to torture and abuse.

Bloody confrontations broke out in different areas such as Qa'a Al-Saeed, Nishour and Al Salim where locals took control of military vehicles with their machineguns in Al-Salim.

In addition, locals killed a number of government troops in Qa'a Al-Sa'eed dominated the sites where they were previously entrenched with some mercenaries. Three locals were injured in the operations, but not seriously.

Saada Governorate officials pleaded for locals help to stop the creeping of Al-Houthi angry followers toward the city center, but the locals rejected the officials' pleas.

A large number of fighters from different districts in Saada joined Al-Houthi followers after they heard of tortures and abuses practiced against detainees in jails. In a communique to the Yemeni people in and outside the country, Yahya Badriddin Al-Houthi, Sa'ada MP, talked about what happens to Al-Houthi followers who are detained in Saada prisons.

“We heard of your reactions and strong denunciation of such a flagrant crime that contradicts values, principles, legislations, conventions and ethics,” Yahya Al-Houthi said in his communique to the public.

“Because of the government's practice of media silencing, we could learn only of seven death cases and eleven injuries, irrespective of several people being subjected to severe beating and maltreatment.” He added.
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