SANAA, Yemen (AP) Shiite rebels in Yemen who overran much of the capital signed a security deal on Saturday that stipulates disarmament and withdrawal from areas they have seized in recent months.
The Shiite rebels, known as Hawthis, signed the deal as part of a comprehensive agreement brokered by the United Nations. Their political rivals, the Muslim Brotherhood-linked Islah party, and other parties signed as well.
It remains to be seen whether the Hawthis will abide by the deal. They are the strongest force on the ground in the capital Sanaa, where they have deployed thousands of fighters, set up checkpoints and seized weapons from army barracks.
Even as Hawthis were signing the security deal, their fighters clashed with security guards for nearly an hour in front of the house of the national security chief Ali al-Ahmadi. Two Hawthi supporters were killed in the shootout.
Al-Ahmadi is in charge of a key security apparatus that coordinates joint U.S-Yemeni efforts to combat the country's al-Qaida franchise. A security official said the Hawthis were trying to storm the building.