24 dead in fighting between Yemeni forces and Shiite rebels

HIZM, Yemen, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Gunfights between Yemeni troops and the allied al-Islah group against Zaidi Shiite rebels resulted in the deaths of 24 people Friday, officials said.

The fighting was for control of government offices in Hizm, the capital of the Jawf province, Middle East Online reported.

"The army and al-Islah lost eight men while the Shiite rebels lost twice that number and there have been dozens of wounded on both sides," a tribal source said.

Earlier in the month, Yemeni President And Rabbuh Mansur Hadi agreed to a plan to turn the country into a six-region federation to alleviate unrest. The rebels want to control Hizm so all of Jawf province would be included in the same Azal region under the new plan.