Al Houthis accused of breaking ceasefire

Dozens killed in clashes only three hours after Yemeni rebels agree to lay down their arms.

SANA'A // A ceasefire agreement bewtween the Yemeni government and al Houthi rebels broke down after about three hours, with renewed fighting overnight leading to the deaths of dozens. The government Supreme Security Committee accused the rebels of breaking the truce, saying they would be held responsible for the consequences. "The rebellion and sabotage elements associated with [the rebels] have violated the government decision to suspend military operations, which was in effect from the government side as of 9pm yesterday [Friday] evening," an official source in the committee said in a statement yesterday.

"Despite government implementation of its decision to suspend military operations to allow food supplies [in to the] province of Sa'ada and humanitarian aid to the displaced in camps ? the terrorist elements abused the decision as usual and continued their attacks and sabotage activities in al Malahidh district [in Sa'ada] and some parts of Harf Sufyan [in neighbouring Amran province], despite their declaration to respect the decision," the source said.

Clashes between the sides were reported just three hours after the government truce took effect. The government's truce was announced after the rebels pledged to guarantee safe corridors for humanitarian aid to the strife- torn areas. The ceasefire "was in response to the calls of international aid organisations and the demands of men and women in Sa'ada so that those displaced in camps ? receive supplies", the security committee said on Friday as it announced the truce.

The living situation of those displaced by the conflict, which began three weeks ago, is deteriorating dramatically, aid agencies say. The UN on Thursday called for US$23.5 million (Dh86m) to feed and shelter a mounting number of poverty-racked villagers displaced by the violence. The UN estimates that intensified combat, which began around Sa'ada city in July, has forced 55,000 highland villagers from their homes, adding to the 95,000 already displaced from previous bouts of fighting in the five-year-old conflict.

The government did not say whether the truce would remain in force or be annulled after reported violations. But it warned the rebels of the consequences of breaking the truce, which implies that, at least officially, it still stands. Severe fighting broke out in al Malahidh district between the government troops and the rebels and dozens were reported to have been killed or wounded after the short-lived truce was announced, according to local sources.

"There were clashes on different front lines like Harf Sufyan and in al Malahidh. It was even worse than before the truce was declared in al Malahidh," the local source said in an interview, on condition of anonymity for fear of his life. The rebels did not issue a statement to comment on the truce and consequent violations. However, Mohammed Abdulsalam, a spokesman for the al Houthis, told Qatar-based Al Jazeera satellite network, that they welcomed the truce and would respect it, though they hoped for a complete end to the war rather than a temporary suspension.

Mr Abdulsalam explained the breaches by saying rebel fighters had not been informed about the rebel leadership's approval of the ceasefire and it would take time for the decision to take effect on the ground. The ceasefire announcement came after a meeting between Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Yemeni president, and Abdulrehman al Attiah, secretary general of the Gulf Co-operation Council, who told reporters that the GCC supported Yemen's stability and security and that it was keen for both sides go back to dialogue and sort out their problems via political means.

Saeed Thabet, an independent political analyst, said the truce would not last. "This truce is fragile and will not sustain even [a few] days," he said. "I think it is a tactic from the government and came just as a response to the pressure of some countries and the humanitarian agencies. Yemen would like to tell the international community it is committed to peace but it was the rebels who abused it."

"I dismiss the possibility that the government will resume its military offensive in a day or two; [instead] it will continue talking about the rebels' abuses of the ceasefire and then resume the attacks ? [this time] justified by the break of the truce," Mr Thabet said. [e-mail]