SANAA, Yemen, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A Yemeni opposition group said Saturday six people were killed, including two soldiers, in separate clashes between the authorities and Islamic militants.
The Islamic Reform Party said on its website that four supporters of a pro-government tribal group, al-Oujeri, were killed and two others were injured in a mortar rocket attack carried out by the supporters of slain religious rebel leader Badreddine al-Houthi.
Al-Houthi was killed in clashes with the authorities last year.
The website quoted local sources in Saadah province as saying two hours of clashes erupted between the two sides after the mortar attack on Friday, but did not report any casualties in these confrontations.
It added that two Yemeni soldiers were killed on Thursday in an ambush by al-Houthi supporters in Al Salem in the north of Saadah province, which has recently witnessed a revival of Islamic rebel activities.
The government has remained silent on the reported clashes with the rebel group and journalists are banned from visiting the troubled area.
According to official estimates, 500 people have been killed and 2,000 others injured since confrontations between al-Houthi rebels and the government erupted in June 2004.
