Yemen clashes renew, 19 dead as ceasefire ends

Renewed clashes between Yemeni government forces and rebels killed 19 people on Tuesday, military officials said a day after a fragile 48-hour ceasefire expired without halting the violence.

Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi repelledan attack by Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies on the outskirts of Taez city in the southwest, the officials said.

The attack that began late yesterday targeted the Al-Dhabab area, which provides pro-Hadi forces with their only access to the flashpoint city that is surrounded by insurgents.

Warplanes from the Saudi-led Arab coalition took part indefensive operations and repelling the attack, officials said. Eleven rebels and five government soldiers were killed, they added.

Meanwhile, three soldiers were killed and four wounded late on Monday by rebel sniper fire in the area of the northwestern coastal town of Midi, a military official said.

The Huthis have been trying to advance on Midi's harbour,which is controlled by pro-Hadi forces, the official said. The coalition and the rebels traded blame on Monday overviolations of the ceasefire which came into effect on Saturday after US Secretary of State John Kerry intervened.

It was the latest international attempt to end Yemen's 20-month conflict, which the United Nations says has killed more than 7,000 people and wounded nearly 37,000.

The Huthis overran the capital Sanaa and other parts of the impoverished country in September 2014, prompting the coalition to intervene six months later in support of Hadi.