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10:17 GMT, Wednesday, 4 November 2009

Yemen rebels 'seize Saudi area'

Yemeni soldiers (file pic)

Rebels from Yemen have fought their way across the border into Saudi Arabia, where they are now holding out against the military.

The rebels have killed a Saudi officer and injured 11 others, the Saudi authorities confirmed on Wednesday.

The rebels said they had taken "full control" of a mountainous section of the border region of Jabal al-Dukhan.

The Yemen government has been waging a campaign against the Zaidi Shia rebels, also known as Houthis, since 2004.

The Houthis have long accused Riyadh of supporting the Yemeni government in attacks against them.

In October there were clashes between Houthis and Saudi security forces near the border.

Yemen is one of the world's poorest countries and analysts question the ability of the government to assert control over the country.




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Related to this story:
Yemen rebels 'fight Saudi forces' (22 Oct 09 |  Middle East )
Yemeni rebels get death penalty (20 Oct 09 |  Middle East )
Yemen faces 'humanitarian crisis' (22 Sep 09 |  Middle East )
Cold War roots of Yemen conflict (17 Sep 09 |  Middle East )
Timeline: Yemen (11 Nov 09 |  Country profiles )
Country profile: Yemen (11 Nov 09 |  Country profiles )


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