Coalition urges Yemenis to unite against Houthis

Riyadh - Security sources and residents said clashes appeared to have spread to most of the city, with reports of running gun battles.

The Arab Coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen has stressed that it is important for all Yemenis of different views and affiliations to take responsibility for the joint action to complete the liberation of all Yemeni land.
The appeal came as Yemen's government accused southern separatists of an attempted coup after they took over its headquarters amid fierce clashes in the city of Aden.
"The Arab Coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen follows up on the latest developments in the Yemeni capital, Aden, and the media debate in this context about some popular demands to rectify some imbalances in the government sector. It calls on all Yemeni political and social components to be calm and to restrain themselves, adhering to the language of calm dialogue," the Coalition leadership said.
It said it was important that all Yemenis work with the Coalition to liberate all Yemeni territory, to defeat the Iranian-backed Houthi militias and put an end to its control over the resources of Yemenis and their lives.
The fresh fighting in the south, which killed at least 15 people, threw war-torn Yemen into further chaos and threatened to undermine President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who ordered his forces to stand down.
Security sources and residents said clashes appeared to have spread to most of the city, with reports of running gun battles.
The government urged the Saudi-led military coalition, which has been supporting Hadi against the rebels in control of much of the north, to intervene. Shortly afterwards, it was reported loyalist commanders had received orders from the president to put down their weapons.

• MENA