Yemens Houthi militias arrested a number of people demonstrating in Sanaa on Saturday over plunging living standards, as soaring prices put basic commodities out of reach for many people.
One protester, Sami al-Masouri, died of multiple stab wounds inflicted by the Houthis while he was protesting in the city. Masouri died on Saturday evening at a Sanaa hospital.
The Iran-aligned Houthis took control of the capital Sanaa in 2014, ousting the internationally recognized government of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Sanaa residents and sources reported that about 80 protesters were arrested on Saturday, including 16 female students, journalists and photographers.
The students were released at the end of the day after signing a pledge not to take part in demonstrations again, one of them said, asking not to be identified for fear of retribution. She said female Houthi supporters “attacked us with electric shock batons and clubs, supported by armed men”.
“They beat me until I fell to the ground and I received an electric shock in the back when I stood up again. I wasnt able to move when they took me to the police station,” she said.
The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency described the demonstrators as “mercenaries” looking to stir up public anger.
“Security services in the capital detained a number of mercenaries tasked by the aggressors to plant rumors and disturb public peace,” Saba reported.
Some staple goods have become too expensive for many Yemenis, and the central bank has struggled to pay the public-sector salaries on which many depend as foreign exchange reserves dwindle.
Separately, Bahrain, part of the Arab Coalition, said the Houthis had shelled a camp for displaced people near the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Friday, “killing a woman and injuring a large number of civilians”, according to a statement from its foreign ministry in Manama.
Houthi representatives have not yet responded to that claim.
Yemeni forces backed by the coalition launched a major operation in Hodeidah in June, but suspended it after several weeks to allow the possibility for UN-brokered peace talks.
Fighting resumed last month, however, after the Houthis failed to attend the talks.
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Last Update: Sunday, 7 October 2018 KSA 13:05 – GMT 10:05
