Eight killed in Yemen sectarian clashes

SANAA (AFP) - Eight gunmen were killed in sectarian clashes in northern Yemen between Shias and Sunnis
amid continuing tension between the rebels and the authorities, local sources said on Saturday.
The overnight fighting between rebels and tribesmen described as Salafists took place in the border area of
Baqim, north of the restive Saada region which is the rebels main bastion, sources close to the rebels said.
Two of the dead gunmen were Zaidis and the other six were Salafists, the sources said.
Other local sources close to the rebels said clashes with government forces have continued for several days in
the Mahazer area of Saada, and that the main road linking Saada with the capital Sanaa has been blocked.
They said tension is high with strong expectations of all-out war once again erupting between government forces
and the rebels, known also as Huthis.
An emailed statement apparently from the Huthis on Saturday accused the government of preparing to launch a
new offensive on Saada.
It charged that MiG fighter jets and helicopters were being readied in Sanaa to launch attacks on rebel
strongholds.
Rebel leader Abdel Malek al-Huthi claimed in a statement that the authorities dropped leaflets on Friday over
several areas of Saada urging people to fight the Huthis, according to the Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat.