Yemen's Houthi rebels accuse gov't forces of attacking UN cease-fire monitor team

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SANAA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels denied attacking the convoy of the United Nations' head of cease-fire monitor team in the war-torn Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Thursday, but accused their foe, the internationally recognized government forces, of shooting at the UN convoy.

"The mercenaries (government forces) opened fire at the security escorts of the UN team," the rebels said in a statement released by the group-controlled Saba news agency.

"The attack happened when the UN's security escorts opened the road of the 50th Street towards 22 May Hospital in order to secure the road for the UN team to reach the other side," they said, quoting unnamed Houthi representative in the UN cease-fire monitor team led by retired general Patrick Cammaert.

"Some of the UN security escorts were wounded in the attack," the rebels said, demanding the United Nations to investigate into the attack and name the perpetrators.

The UN spokesperson tweeted, "Patrick Cammaert and team are safe in Hodeidah following reported shooting incident. More information to come later."

Saudi-run Al Arabiya TV, which backs the Yemeni government, said "the Houthi militias fired at the convoy of the UN's head of cease-fire monitor group, Patrick Cammaert, in Hodeidah."

There was no comment yet by the Yemeni government side, but pro-government Hodeidah Net website reported that "the rebel attack took place when Cammaert's team was driving back to the city after meeting the government representatives."

The Houthi rebels control the center of the port city and parts of the roads surrounding it, while the government forces have been stationing near the southern and eastern outskirts and roads of the city.

On Monday, the UN said its delegate Cammaert "shuttled" between opposing members of the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) in Hodeidah "due to the inability of the parties to have a joint meeting."

Discussions have been stalled because of different interpretations of the Stockholm accord, reached last month, over who would control key points of Hodeidah during a partial cease-fire. Enditem

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