Yemen: northern rebels, rival Salafis reach a ceasefire after fighting killed hundreds
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The head of a Yemeni presidential committee says northern rebels and their rival ultraconservative Islamists have reached a cease-fire after weeks of fighting.
Yahia Abu Issba says on Monday that Hawthi rebels and Salafis signed a deal, according to which the Salafis will depart the northern city of Damaj that witnessed one of the fiercest clashes. The military started to deploy forces to take over positions in the city. On two other fronts, mediators sealed similar deals.
Hundreds of people were killed and injured in the clashes. There is no accurate figure for the death toll.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fighting erupted in November after Hawthis — who belong to the Zaydi sect, a Shiite branch — accused the Salafis of trying to gain a foothold in their territory and spread their school of Islam.