Yemen official says Libya, Iran groups back rebels

Reuters ^ | March 3 2007

[jmc1969]

A Yemeni ruling party official has accused Libya and Iranian religious institutions of backing Shi'ite Muslim rebels who are battling government forces in the north of the Sunni-dominated country.

At least 105 soldiers and 90 rebels have died this year in sporadic but fierce clashes, according to government officials who say the rebels, led by Shi'ite leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, want to install religious rule.

"There are Iranian religious institutions which are providing support," Shami said on the party's Web site on Thursday.

In March 2006, Yemen freed more than 600 Shi'ite rebels as part of an amnesty to end two years of clashes that have killed several hundred soldiers and rebels.

But, "the Houthis have used a period of truce with the state to buy heavy weapons using foreign support money," Shami said.