YEMEN accused northern rebels yesterday of ignoring a cease-fire it declared during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr in a war that killed dozens this week, pressuring the government to reduce civilian casualties.
Instability in Yemen, which includes a revived campaign against foreign and government targets by al Qaeda over the past two years, has alarmed Western powers and neighbouring Saudi Arabia, one of the world's biggest oil producers.
They have not adhered to the cease-fire, continuing attacks against the armed forces in Malahidh, Sufyan and Baqem, a military spokesman said in a statement
The Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is expected to start today and last for three days. The statement said the cease-fire would start yesterday.
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of the rebels of the Shi'ite Zaydi Muslim sect in Saada and Amran provinces, told Al Jazeera television they were ready to halt the fighting but called on the government to release prisoners held for four years.
A statement on the rebels' website said that the army had carried out three air raids and blown up houses in Saada city, which is under government control.
The site also published images of what appeared to be children among 87 people who died in an air raid at a makeshift camp for displaced persons in Saada province on Wednesday, two days after a market in the town of al-Talh was bombed.
The incidents met with wide condemnation from aid organisations and Yemeni rights groups. The United Nations top human rights official called on the Yemeni government to meet its obligations to civilians.
Russia finds no secret cargo on Arctic Sea- report
RUSSIAN prosecutors found no suspicious materials on the ship Arctic Sea despite media reports it was carrying an air-defence system for Iran, Russian newswires reported yesterday.
Russia's foreign minister denied the British and Russian press reports earlier this month.
The Maltese-registered cargo ship was officially carrying timber from Finland to Algeria when it was boarded on July 24 by eight men. They were charged with kidnapping and piracy after it was intercepted by Russian warships off Cape Verde.
Since then there has been speculation the ship, crewed by Russians, Estonians and Latvians, was carrying a secret cargo.
British and Russian press reports, citing military sources in Israel and Russia, said the Arctic Sea had been loaded with Russian S-300 missiles at the naval port of Kaliningrad without the Kremlin's knowledge. Mossad, Israel's intelligence service, had been monitoring the shipment and tipped off Moscow.
A spokesman for the Russian Prosecutor General's Investigative Committee said prosecutors found nothing but timber on the ship, anchored near the Canary Islands. The ship was searched with the help of modern appliances, inside and outside. There was nothing but timber and lumber. Nothing that could compromise Russian Federation was found, Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.