At least eight security men and Islamic followers of the slain rebel Hussein Badr A-Din Al-Houthi were killed Tuesday during clashes in ‘S’ada, 242 kilometers (150 miles) north of the capital ‘San’a, according to Yemeni media outlets.
Al-Houthi, a Shi’ite and a self-proclaimed messiah, led a rebellion, which began on June 18, 2004, against the Yemeni government. He was killed on September 2004. No formal figures have yet been released, but estimates indicate that hundreds of people were killed in the clashes which spread all through the northern region of Yemen.
According to various reports, the latest clashes began when security forces stopped a car belonging to one of Al-Houthi’s followers, searching for illegal weapons.
‘Abd Al-Malik Al-Houthi, brother of Hussein Badr a-Din, sent a letter of protest to Yemen’s President ‘Ali ‘Abdallah ‘Salih, saying the security forces are not implementing on the ground the presidential pardon given to Al-Houthi’s followers.
Al-Houthi’s second brother, Yahya, a member of Yemen’s parliament, has warned against the renewal of the rebellion, and blamed the security forces for provocations against the local civilians.