Yemen Fighting Nears Saudi Border

Reuters reports:

Factional fighting in Yemen's north entered its fifth day on Tuesday, bringing violence closer to the border with Saudi Arabia, while the United States' top counter-terrorism official visited Sanaa.

Twenty-three people have been killed and dozens injured in the northern province of Jawf since clashes broke out on Friday between members of Yemen's main opposition party Islah and northern Shi'ite rebels known as Houthis.

Jawf lies along Yemen's northern border with oil giant Saudi Arabia, which fears that unrest in its poverty-stricken southern neighbour could spill over and create a major security threat.

Fighting started when Houthis refused to give up an army base they occupied after the governor of Jawf fled two months ago, an opposition source said.