Saudis declares Yemen humanitarian truce

Pro-government forces battled retreating rebels on the northern outskirts of Yemen's second city of Aden yesterday ahead of a humanitarian truce declared by the Saudi-led coalition bombing the Iran-backed insurgents.

Troops loyal to exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi sought to tighten their control of the southern port city and surrounding areas ahead of the ceasefire, scheduled to take effect at midnight (2100 GMT).

But Huthi rebel leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi rejected the unilaterally declared truce, according to a statement on a Twitter account believed to be managed by his group, saying it was aimed at allowing pro-government fighters to regroup.

The Saudi-led coalition said the five-day truce to allow aid deliveries but said it reserved the right to respond to "military activity or movement".

The truce was announced at Hadi's request, it said.

The impoverished nation has been rocked by months of fighting between Huthi Shia rebels and Hadi loyalists, supported by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, leaving thousands dead and many more in need of urgent aid.

Pro-Hadi Popular Resistance militiamen attacked the Huthis overnight Saturday on the northern outskirts of Aden, forcing the rebels out of the areas of Basateen and Jawala.

The loyalist forces have been bolstered by new weaponry and armoured vehicles delivered by the coalition. They also benefited from air support by coalition warplanes, military sources said, adding that dozens of rebels were killed in the latest fighting.

Further north, troops loyal to Hadi forced rebels out of the town of Sabr in Lahj province, General Fadhel Hassan told AFP.

Hassan said pro-Hadi troops had taken the town that links Aden to Huta, the provincial capital of Lahj, adding that Huta is the next target before reaching Al-Anad, the country's largest airbase.

The strategically important base housed US troops involved in a long-running drone war against al-Qaeda before the fighting forced them to withdraw.