Yemen ceasefire breached as violence flares anew

SANAA, Yemen: Fierce clashes erupted between rebels and tribes backed by an army unit in a northern Yemeni city close to the capital on Friday, breaching a week-old ceasefire, a defense ministry official said, as the country's leaders said assailants were plotting to destabilize the country. The official said that heavy weapons and artillery were being used in the fighting in the northern city of Amran. Hawthi rebels, who belong to a branch of Shia Islam, are fighting tribesmen from Yemen's largest tribal confederation, the Hashid, which is backed by an army unit and allied with the Muslim Brotherhood. Hawthis are backed by supporters from smaller tribes. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. AP