SANAA

Shiite Houthi militants have forcibly dispersed a fresh anti-Houthi demonstration that erupted in capital Sanaa and detained a number of opposition activists, an Anadolu Agency correspondent reported.

Houthi militants, some of them wearing police uniforms, fired shots into the air and assaulted protesters outside Sanaa University before detaining four demonstrators and a number of photojournalists, the AA correspondent said.

In recent days, Houthi militants have broken up several marches held to protest the Shiite group's takeover of government offices and what critics describe as the "coup" staged against resigned President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

Hadi tendered his resignation to parliament last week shortly after Prime Minister Khaled Bahah and his government did the same to protest the Houthis' takeover of the presidential palace  and government offices in Sanaa.

Last week, the capital was rocked by deadly clashes between Houthis and presidential guard units amid an apparent push by the former to consolidate control.

The Houthis seized control of Sanaa in September before moving on to establish control over other parts of the country as well.

The rise of the Houthis has pitted the Shiite group against local Sunni tribes and Al-Qaeda, the latter of which is said to remain active in the country.

Fractious Yemen has remained in a state of turmoil since President Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in 2012 following a months-long popular uprising against his 33-year rule.