Houthis take over Yemen presidential palace

Houthi fighters have taken full control of Yemen’s presidential palace in the capital Sanaa, ahead of an expected address by the Shia group’s leader, after a brief clash with the compound’s security guards, witnesses and security sources say.

The development came a day after the parties in the conflict said at two separate times they had agreed to a ceasefire.

The ceasefires were intended to pave the way for negotiations on Tuesday, still under way, between the opposing parties: the internationally backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the group. 

Guards at the presidential palace housing the main office of Hadi said they handed over the compound to Houthi fighters after a brief clash on Tuesday.

Houthi leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, for years the chief negotiator for Shia Houthis, was due to give an address later on Tuesday. The son of a cleric, he is part of Zaidi Shia family from northwestern Yemen.