200 HOUTHI REBELS ARRESTED IN SAADA

SAADA, Dec. 16 (Saba) - Security authorities have arrested in the
past few days about 200 members of rebel al-Houith loyalist sleeper
cells in the old city of Saada, the military-run 26sep.net has
reported.

During his inspection visit to security sites in Sa'ada city, the
First Undersecretary of Interior Ministry Mohammed al-Qawsi has said
that the some of the rebels have surrendered themselves.

During the visit, al-Qawsi has met with security officers and
soldiers in the sites and talked with them over many security issues
in the city.

A few days ago, al-Qawsi has said that 25 members of al-Houthi
sleeper cells in the city were handed themselves up to the security
services and they have been sent to the competent authorities,
according to the 26.sep website.

Since fighting erupted in 2004, thousands of people, soldiers and
insurgents have been killed in Saada province, which located close
to border with Saudi Arabia, after the rebel group was founded by
rebel leader Hussein al-Houthi.

Hussein, the eldest brother of the current group leader Abdul-Malik,
was killed by the army in September 2004.

The Yemeni government accuses the Houthi group of trying to
reinstall the rule of imams, which was toppled by a republican
revolution in northern Yemen in 1962.

MB/AF