Presidential palace in Yemen is taken by Shiite militiamen

AP

The Yemeni presidential complex, in the capital Sanaa, was taken on Tuesday by Shiite militiamen, said a senior military official.

“The Huthi fighters entered the palace and are looting weapons depots,” said the source.

A Huthi responsible, Ali al Bujaiti confirmed on his Facebook account that the Shiite movement Ansarualá had “taken control of the presidential complex.”

Meanwhile, other fighters of this militia confronted  government soldiers near the residence of President Abd Rabo Mansour Hadi, in western Sanaa, where according to medical sources, at least two soldiers died.

The Minister of Information, Nadia Sakkaf, said on his Twitter account that, from 15:00 local (12:00 GMT), the president was the target of an attack by Shiite militiamen “who want to overthrow the regime.”

According to several witnesses, the intensity of the fighting around the residence of Hadi was reduced late in the afternoon, while apparently the president is still in the building.