Shiite rebels clash with pro-army tribesmen near Yemen capital

Fighting broke out on Saturday between pro-government tribesmen and Shiite Houthi rebels near the Yemeni capital Sanaa, as the president vowed that authorities will not tolerate violence from any group.

The Houthis have advanced out of their northern mountain strongholds toward Sanaa in a suspected attempt to expand their sphere of influence, as Yemen is reorganised into six regions ahead of planned federalisation.

Battles raged in the villages of Darwan, Bani Maymun, al-Jaef and al-Maamar, in the northern town of Hamdan, around 10 kilometres from the Sanaa International Airport, tribal and army sources told AFP.

Further north in Amran province, tribal and military sources said "fierce clashes" raged late on Friday pitting troops and Houthi militants against each other.

The sources spoke of "dozens" of casualties but AFP could not immediately verify the toll.

Meanwhile, in a speech marking the start of Ramadan, President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi denounced the violence.

"We will not allow any acts of violence here and there by any party trying to undermine security," Hadi said in a statement carried by the official Saba news agency.

"All parties must comply with agreements reached to resolve latest tensions and fighting in Amran, Hamdan, Arhab, and Bani Matar" in the north, he added.

Houthis have been battling the central government for years from their Saada heartland, complaining of marginalisation under former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who stepped down in 2012 after a year-long uprising.

Clashes erupted earlier this month in the north, ending an 11-day truce agreed after mediation backed by United Nations envoy Jamal Benomar.

The rebels say a federalisation plan agreed in February, during national talks to push forward a political transition, will divide Yemen into rich and poor regions.

In February they seized areas of Amran province, during fighting with tribes that killed more than 150 people.