Yemen leader orders advance on Sanaa, Rouhani warns aggressors

SANAA: Yemen's exiled president ordered troops to advance on Sanaa hours after his predecessor was killed by Huthi rebels, officials said, as heavy fighting continued in the capital, reports AFP.

President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi called on Yemenis to unite against the Iran-backed insurgents who shot Ali Abdullah Saleh dead as he fled the city following the collapse of their alliance.

"Let's join hands to end the control of these... criminal gangs and... open a new chapter to rid our beloved Yemen of this nightmare," Hadi, leader of the internationally recognised government, said in a televised address late Monday from Saudi Arabia, where he lives in exile.

Saleh, who ruled Yemen for three decades, had joined forces with the Shiite Huthi rebels in 2014 when they took control of large parts of the country, including the capital, Sanaa.

But that alliance unravelled over the past week, with dozens reported dead in heavy clashes as the former leader reached out to the Saudi-led coalition that has waged devastating air strikes against the Huthis since September 2015.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday that Yemenis would make those attacking their country regret their actions as a Saudi-led coalition pounded the rebel-held capital with heavy air strikes.

"The people of Yemen will make their aggressors regret their actions," Rouhani said in a televised speech.

His comments came a day after the killing of ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh by Iran-backed Huthi rebels triggered a renewed Saudi-backed offensive on the Yemeni capital Sanaa.

Saudi Arabia, Iran's main regional rival, has been leading a coalition against the Huthis in a war that has cost thousands of lives and become the world's worst humanitarian crisis according to the United Nations.

 

Yemen leader orders advance on Sanaa, Rouhani warns aggressors

SANAA: Yemens exiled president ordered troops to advance on Sanaa hours after his predecessor was killed by Huthi rebels, officials said, as heavy fighting continued in the capital, reports AFP. President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi called on Yemenis to unite against the Iran-backed insurgents who shot Ali Abdullah Saleh dead as he fled the city following the collapse of their alliance. Lets join hands to end the control of these... criminal gangs and... open a new chapter to rid our beloved Yemen of this nightmare, Hadi, leader of the internationally recognised government, said in a televised address late Monday from Saudi Arabia, where he lives in exile. Saleh, who ruled Yemen for three decades, had joined forces with the Shiite Huthi rebels in 2014 when they took control of large parts of the country, including the capital, Sanaa. But that alliance unravelled over the past week, with dozens reported dead in heavy clashes as the former leader reached out to the Saudi-led coalition that has waged devastating air strikes against the Huthis since September 2015. Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday that Yemenis would make those attacking their country regret their actions as a Saudi-led coalition pounded the rebel-held capital with heavy air strikes. The people of Yemen will make their aggressors regret their actions, Rouhani said in a televised speech. His comments came a day after the killing of ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh by Iran-backed Huthi rebels triggered a renewed Saudi-backed offensive on the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Saudi Arabia, Irans main regional rival, has been leading a coalition against the Huthis in a war that has cost thousands of lives and become the worlds worst humanitarian crisis according to the United Nations.