Aid flows in amid raging violence

The Red Cross and UN flew medical aid into Yemen's capital yesterday after southern city Aden was battered by the heaviest night yet of Saudi-led air strikes targeting Shiite rebels.

The United Nations also called for a daily "humanitarian pause" of a few hours, saying aid was desperately needed in the conflict-ravaged country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it dispatched an aircraft to Sanaa, its first aid shipment since the international campaign against Shiite rebels began last month.

"This is the first ICRC plane to have landed in Sanaa. It is loaded with 16 tonnes of medical aid," said Marie Claire Feghali, Red Cross spokeswoman in Yemen.

Residents and officials in Aden said the city was pounded after Huthi Shia rebels and renegade soldiers loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh reached the city's northern entrance.

"The raids began at around 10:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Thursday and were the most violent since the start of 'Operation Decisive Storm'," a resident told AFP.

Residents also said coalition aircraft targeted other positions, including a city centre stadium and rebel-manned checkpoints.

More than two weeks of heavy bombardment by the Saudi-led alliance against opponents of exiled Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and fighting between rival militias prompted the UN call for a freeze in the violence.

The World Health Organization said nearly 650 people have been killed and more than 2,000 injured in the fighting, but the actual number of fatalities is likely to be far higher since many people are not reaching hospitals and being buried immediately, Van Der Klaauw said.

India has ended its massive evacuation efforts in Yemen, pulling out 5,600 people, including 4,640 Indians and 960 nationals from 41 countries, the government said.