Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh is moving the goalposts.
Saleh rejected the proposed cease-fire from the Huthi rebels, according to Yemen's state-run SABA news service (عربي). Abdul Malik al-Huthi, the rebel leader, agreed to the five cease-fire conditions previously established by Saleh's government -- but now Saleh says there is a sixth: The rebels must return Saudi Arabian hostages and vow not to attack Saudi territory.
An unnamed Yemeni official says the government also rejected Huthi's offer because it demands the government end its military operations first.
Saleh's decision doesn't really come as a surprise: Countless previous truce offers have collapsed, and this one -- which wasn't coordinated with the central government -- seemed destined for a quick failure as well.
And so fighting continues (عربي) in Saada province. It's tough to get an accurate casualty count, but Yemeni security sources say roughly 20 Huthis were killled (عربي) in air raids and ground operations. The Huthi-Saudi cease-fire continues to fray, too: Saudi military officials say Huthi snipers are still infiltrating their territory, and the Huthis say Saudi jets are still launching air raids in Saada.
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Categories: Regional News, Saudi Arabia, War and Terrorism, Yemen, Yemeni Insurgency
Tags: Abdul Malik al-Huthi, Ali Abdullah Saleh, Huthi rebels
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