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Yemen ex-President Saleh killed by Houthis following his realignment with Saudis (GRAPHIC) Yemen ex-President Saleh killed by Houthis following his realignment with Saudis (GRAPHIC)
(35 minutes later)
Former President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, has been killed by Houthi fighters, as conflict raged in capital Sanaa, following a breakdown of his alliance with the movement last week. Former President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, has been killed by Houthi fighters, as violence rages in capital Sanaa, following a breakdown of his alliance with the movement last week.
The death has been confirmed, both, by his own General People's Congress party, and the Houthi-backed media. The death has been confirmed, both, by his own General People's Congress party, and the Houthi-backed media, which claimed that the movement has gained the upper hand in the capital.
"The ministry of interior statement announces that they have taken over all the positions and strongholds of the treacherous militia in the capital Sanaa and the surrounding areas, as well as other provinces in order to impose security," Houthi TV reported "The ministry of interior statement announces that they have taken over all the positions and strongholds of the treacherous militia in Sanaa and the surrounding areas, as well as other provinces in order to impose security," Houthi TV reported adding that "Saleh and his supporters" had been killed.
"It also announces the killing of the treacherous leader Ali Abdullah Saleh and his supporters. This is after he and his men blockade the roads and killed civilians in a clear collaboration with the enemy countries of the coalition."
In a statement on Monday, Saleh declared that Yemen "had to be saved from the madness of the Houthi group.”In a statement on Monday, Saleh declared that Yemen "had to be saved from the madness of the Houthi group.”
Unverified images allegedly depicting a dead Saleh with a wound to the head have surfaced online.  Houthi sources reported that the Saleh, who had led the country from 1978 until 2011, was ambushed while attempting to flee the capital in the direction of the province of Marib. His car, which was also carrying the secretary-general of his party Yasser al-Awadi, was allegedly first hit by an RPG, and riddled with bullets, as Salah tried to escape on foot.
Unverified images allegedly depicting a dead Saleh with a fatal gunshot head wound have surfaced online. A video was uploaded to social media, in which fighters cried "Praise to Allah!" as they showed off the dead 75-year-old's body to the camera operator.
The reports emerged following earlier news suggesting Houthis had blown up Saleh’s home in the capital, Sanaa. Since then, the ex-leader’s whereabouts have been unknown. Other reports said that Houthis had blown up Saleh’s home in Sanaa, and wounded and captured his son, Khaled.
Saleh, who was deposed as part of the Arab spring that swept through the region over six years ago, had formed an uneasy alliance with the Houthis against the Saudi-led coalition after war broke out in the country in 2014.
Having reported the death of their ex-president and former ally, the ministry in Yemen said Saleh “was creating chaos by working with militias of aggression.” Houthi security forces now control “all positions” of those militias, it added. But in the wake of a fallout with the Houthis sparked by a dispute over control of a mosque in Sanaa on Wednesday, Saleh said that he was prepared to turn a "new page" with the Saudis, provided they lifted the debilitating blockade of the country.
Heavy fighting has been ongoing in Yemen's capital in recent days, with the Saudi-led coalition launching strikes on Houthi positions. On Monday, the Houthis made gains against forces supporting the former president. According to witness reports in local media, there was intense fighting overnight, with explosions rocking the city into Monday morning. "I call upon the brothers in neighboring states and the alliance to stop their aggression, lift the siege, open the airports and allow food aid and the saving of the wounded and we will turn a new page by virtue of our neighborliness," he said.
The intensified fighting, with the US-backed Saudis launching new attacks on Houthi forces, has “completely paralyzed humanitarian operations” in the Yemeni capital, AP reported Monday citing an adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council, Suze van Meegen. “No one is safe in Sanaa at the moment,” she said. The Houthis immediately labeled him a traitor, and according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, more than 125 people have died in street fights between the two factions over the past six days.
On Sunday, the former leader of the war-torn country formally renounced his alliance with the Houthis. Together these groups have been fighting against the Saudi-backed forces of ousted President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi since 2015. Saleh now pledged to step up his fight with the Iranian-backed group, having re-aligned his forces with Saudi Arabia.
READ MORE: Saudi intervention in Yemen was mistake, root of crisis must be addressed – ex-Iran FMREAD MORE: Saudi intervention in Yemen was mistake, root of crisis must be addressed – ex-Iran FM
In an earlier televised speech, Saleh said that he made the decision to cease fighting in the country, having asked Riyadh to stop attacks on Yemen in exchange for his support. "I call upon the brothers in neighboring states and the alliance to stop their aggression, lift the siege, open the airports and allow food aid and the saving of the wounded and we will turn a new page by virtue of our neighborliness," he said. The intensified fighting, during which the US-backed Saudi force shelled the Iran-supported Houthis to reinforce their new-found ally, has “completely paralyzed humanitarian operations” in the Yemeni capital, AP reported Monday citing an adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council, Suze van Meegen. “No one is safe in Sanaa at the moment,” she said.
The address came as forces loyal to Saleh were engaged in battle with the troops of Ansar Allah, or the Houthi rebels, in the capital Sanaa. Hostilities between the two sides broke out on Wednesday. More than 100 people, mostly Houthis, were killed in clashes between Houthis and forces loyal to ex-President Saleh on Saturday, Sky News Arabia reported, citing military and medical sources.