Sa’ada police arrest numerous Al-Houthi supporters [Archives:2006/998/Front Page]

SANA'A, Nov. 11 ) Various media sources reported Friday that security forces waged a wave of arrests against Al-Houthi followers in Maran district, Sa'ada governorate, the site of alternating clashes involving the Yemeni Army and Al-Houthi supporters since 2004.

Sources further noted that, under direct order by district security chief Mansour Al-Farasi, security forces in Maran arrested eight Al-Houthi followers there.

Local sources also mentioned that security forces arrested local resident Dhaif Allah Hassan early last week and that a security soldier fired at a citizen for refusing to hand over a bundle of qat.

For his part, Sa'ada Governor Yahya Al-Shami denied press allegations claiming that security forces were responsible for breaching a truce agreed upon by both sides. In a statement to Akhbar Al-Youm newspaper, Al-Shami denied that Al-Houthi followers adhere to Zaidi doctrine.

In related news, Al-Ishtiraki Net reported that army forces located in Maran since 2004 arrested 20 people in Al-Khamis Market in central Haydan district.

The same source added that 15-year-old Jarallah Zaid Ali Sanad, whose father and four other family members were killed in Sa'ada's first war, was among those arrested.

Sources affiliated with local authorities declared that the 20 were arrested as they chanted, “Death to America!” a slogan Al-Houthi followers frequently chanted during the first Sa'ada war.

However, sources close to Al-Houthi denied the allegation, saying, “Their primary task is visiting several families whose relatives were killed during the first battle in Maran.”

Over the past 15 days, Sa'ada has witnessed tension between Al-Houthi followers and security and army forces following the failure of a mediation committee. Several parties affiliated with the authority are attempting to hinder the committee's involvement and prevent implementing President Ali Abdullah Saleh's directives related to treating Sa'ada's troubles on every level.

In the past three weeks, pro-government newspapers have resumed their usual tactics to rouse provocation against what they term the 12th Al-Houthi faction. Additionally, they're calling for a security coalition between Yemen and Saudi Arabia to attack what they view as an Iranian-Houthi threat, a hint that observers consider a potential spark for renewing strife in Sa'ada.
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