SANAA
Three people were killed and 56 others injured on Tuesday when Shiite Houthi militants opened fire on anti-Houthi protesters in Yemen's central city of Taizz, eyewitnesses have said.
Houthi militants used live ammunition to disperse a protest held to demand that they leave the town of Al-Turbah, killing two protesters and injuring seven, witnesses told The Anadolu Agency.
Houthi gunmen also dispersed an anti-Houthi protest in provincial capital Taizz, leaving one protester dead and 49 wounded, including several who are in serious condition.
On Friday, pro-Houthi troops entered the Taizz province, where they took up positions at a Special Forces camp in the provincial capital.
The move has prompted massive protests against their presence by local residents in recent days.
The Houthis emerged as a formidable political and military force after taking over capital Sanaa last September, from which they have sought to extend their control to other parts of the country.
The rise of the Houthis has brought the Shiite group into conflict with local Sunni tribes and Al-Qaeda, the latter of which is said to still be active in the fractious country.
Yemen has remained in turmoil since autocratic President Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in 2012 following a months-long popular uprising against his 33-year rule.
