Yemen blames Sadrists for rebel support

SANAA, Yemen, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The Sadrist Movement in Iraq has teamed up with Iran to offer support for Shiite al-Houthi rebels combating national forces, the Yemeni president said.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh alleged in an interview with Arabic news channel al-Jazeera that Sadrists were collaborating with Iran in its support for al-Houthi guerrillas.

Iran was singled out for its media bias favoring the guerrilla movement in its coverage of the conflict in north Yemen.

Yemeni forces launched a major offensive against al-Houthi rebels in the northern province of Saada in August. Relief groups and the United Nations say the lingering conflict in north Yemen has created a humanitarian disaster.

Saleh also said militants in the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon had trained al-Houthi rebels in how to make and use landmines, grenades and small arms, the Yemen Post reports.

Yemen earlier came forward with allegations that al-Houthi rebels were using Iranian-made weapons in their fight against government forces.

The president, meanwhile, said he appreciated the efforts of Libya and Qatar, which acted is mediators between the government and rebel forces.