The government wants the information delivered or on the five Germans and a Briton kidnapped in June along with three women found dead. Exchange of accusations of violating the truce, the rebels speak of "criminal acts".

Sanaa (AsiaNews / Agencies) - There is a demand for "information" about the fate of six Europeans - five Germans and a Briton - abducted in June in the north of Yemen among the conditions imposed by the Sanaa government to put an end to the heavy attacks that the army is conducting against the Houthi rebels. The rebels, who complain of air strikes and bombardment of peaceful villages, are a Shiite minority that takes its name from Abdulmalik al-Houthi, their spiritual leader. Al-Houthi speaks of "criminal acts" and describes the deaths of two children, due to the attacks.

The government accuses the Houti of wanting to restore a form of state – along Iranian lines – similar to the one in the region of Sa'ad that lasted until the '60s, and of attacks against government installations, as well as kidnappings, like that of June. On that occasion three women, two German and one South Korean, were also abducted but later found dead.  

The current clash, which local sources call the "Sixth War of Sa'ad" involves, in addition to the army, members of the Hashid tribe, who are also Shiites. This highlights the intricacy of the situation.

Last Saturday, a mediation committee had established "steps" to reach a stable ceasefire, but the government and rebels accuse each other of making any truce impossible, which was supposed to have substituted an existing one, that had also been violated.

• yemen
• rebels
• ceasefire
• government
• kidnappings
• shiite
• muslim