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Yemeni city Taiz 'seized by Shia rebels' Yemeni city Taiz 'seized by Shia rebels'
(about 4 hours later)
Parts of Yemen's third largest city Taiz have been seized by Shia rebels, reports quoting security officials say. Yemen's third largest city Taiz and its airport have been seized by Shia Houthi rebels, officials say.
The city's airport was among the areas taken by Houthi insurgents. Residents took to the streets in protest and one was killed as the rebels fired on them and used tear gas.
There has been mounting violence by rival armed groups in Yemen, including the Houthis, al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants. The insurgents already hold the capital, Sanaa, after overthrowing President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi in February. He fled to Aden in the south.
President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi was overthrown by Houthis in February and fled from the capital, Sanaa, to the southern city of Aden. Instability has been growing in Yemen, where al-Qaeda and Islamic State sympathisers also pose a threat.
On Saturday, the US said it was withdrawing its troops from the country due to the worsening security situation.On Saturday, the US said it was withdrawing its troops from the country due to the worsening security situation.
Patrols The US evacuated a southern military base seen as key to its use of drones against al-Qaeda militants.
Houthi fighters dressed in military uniform could be seen arriving at the airport in Taiz and patrolling parts of the city, eyewitnesses said. Tanks
Dozens of tanks and military vehicles were reported to be heading from north Yemen towards Taiz, which lies between Sanaa and Aden.Dozens of tanks and military vehicles were reported to be heading from north Yemen towards Taiz, which lies between Sanaa and Aden.
Some local residents took to the streets to protest against the Houthi presence, prompting rebels to fire into the air to disperse them. The seizure of the Taiz brings the Houthis to within 140km (86 miles) of President Hadi's new base in Aden - a southern port city.
The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Yemen's security situation on Sunday.The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Yemen's security situation on Sunday.
The rebels declared a new government in February and said a transitional five-member presidential council would replace President Hadi.The rebels declared a new government in February and said a transitional five-member presidential council would replace President Hadi.
However, the Houthis are minority Shia from the north, and their declaration has not been recognised by Sunni and southern leaders. However, the Houthis are from the north, and their declaration has not been recognised by southern leaders.
Mr Hadi called on Friday for the rebels to withdraw from Sanaa, but the Houthis appealed for a general mobilisation against the president's forces. On Sunday, Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi vowed to pursue Islamists militants from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and IS.
Yemen is the base of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a powerful offshoot of the jihadist group.
However, IS is also gaining ground after setting up a base there in November and said it was behind suicide bombings of two Houthi mosques on Friday in Sanaa, which killed 137 worshippers.
Both al-Qaeda and IS are Sunni groups and consider the Shia Muslim Houthis to be heretics.Both al-Qaeda and IS are Sunni groups and consider the Shia Muslim Houthis to be heretics.
IS said it was behind the suicide bombings of two Houthi mosques on Friday in Sanaa, which killed 137 worshippers.
Mr Houthi also accused Qatar and Saudi Arabia of "funding all conspiracies in the region" and accused Mr Hadi of "being a puppet in the hands of other actors to implement their agendas in Yemen".
This crisis is deepening fast, says BBC Middle East analyst Alan Johnston, and there's a danger of northern and southern Yemen eventually being torn apart.
Are you in Yemen? Have you witnessed events? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in Yemen? Have you witnessed events? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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