Yemen s ex-President Saleh killed during Sanaa clashes

Sanaa Dec 4 (IANS) Reports from Yemen say ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh was killed on Monday in fighting with his former allies.

Media controlled by the rebel Houthi movement quoted officials as declaring the "end of the crisis of the treason militia and the killing of its leader".

Sources in Saleh s General People s Congress party also confirmed that he was killed during fierce clashes in the capital Sanaa with Houthi militias.

A video showed Saleh lying on blanket surrounded by Houthi militias celebrating his death. The short clip aired on a pro-Houthi television channel appears to show Saleh had sustained a head injury potentially a gunshot wound.

Earlier in the day militias from Yemen s armed Houthi movement blew up Saleh s house in the centre of the capital Sanaa residents reported.

The previous night Saleh officially announced the dissolution of his partnership with former Houthi militia allies.

"Zero hour is coming to the battlefield in Sanaa... The country had to be saved from the madness of the Houthi group " Saleh said in statements on Monday morning.

Meanwhile International Committee of the Red Cross has said that at least 125 persons have been killed and 238 wounded in fighting in Sanaa over the last five days.

--IANS
ahm/vm