At least 12 people killed in north Yemen fighting

Source Agence France Presse

At least eight Zaidi rebels and four pro-government tribesmen have been killed in fighting in north Yemen, a tribal source said on Wednesday, as Saudi forces continued to attack insurgents on the border between the two countries. The casualties were inflicted in fighting between members of the Popular Army of pro-government volunteers and rebels in Malahidh, the source said, without giving a date. There was also fighting between units of Yemen's presidential guard and rebels in Harf Sufyan, with rebel positions being heavily bombarded, the source said. Meanwhile, the Zaidi Shiite rebels announced a new offensive against Saudi troops in the Marwi region. But in Riyadh, a senior defence official said media reports that Saudi forces had attacked the rebels inside Yemen were "lies" and "fabrications," state news agency SPA reported.