SANAA 

Shiite Houthi militants on Sunday took control of an airport and a court complex in the central city of Taizz, eyewitnesses have said.

Houthi gunmen bearing weapons emblazoned with "death to America and Israel" slogans took control of Taizz airport, located in city's al-Hawban district, eyewitnesses told The Anadolu Agency.

Another group of Houthi militants have taken over a court complex in the city's Wadi al-Qadi district, the witnesses added.

On Friday, witnesses told AA that pro-Houthi troops entered the Taizz province and took up positions in a Special Forces camp in the provincial capital that carries the same name.

The troops were backed by 20 military vehicles and personnel carriers when they entered the camp, witnesses added.

1 killed, 10 wounded by Houthi gunfire 

A protester was killed and ten others were injured Sunday when militants from Yemen's Shiite Houthi movement opened fire to disperse an anti-Houthi demonstration in the central city of Taizz, eyewitnesses have said.

Houthi gunmen used teargas and live rounds to disperse the anti-Houthi protest in Taizz, killing one protester and  wounding ten others, eyewitnesses told The Anadolu Agency.

Wounded protesters were transferred to nearby hospitals while dozens of protesters suffered temporary asphyxia from teargas.

Witnesses had earlier told AA that a mass protest roamed several streets in the city before reaching the Special Forces encampment - where pro-Houthi forces are stationed - to demand the Houthis' departure.

The troops were backed by 20 military vehicles and personnel carriers when they entered the camp, witnesses added.

The Houthis emerged as a formidable political and military force in Yemen after assuming control of Sanaa last September before moving on to establish control over other parts of the country.

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

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