Rebels seize Yemen state media in early morning battles

(Image credit: AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

last updated 19 January 2015

In a move officials call a "step toward a coup," rebel Shiite Houthis battled soldiers around Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and near the president's palace Monday, seizing control of the country's state-run media.

Fighting began in the early morning hours. Convoys of Yemen's prime minister and top presidential adviser were reportedly under heavy machine gun fire. At least three people have been killed. Officials are reportedly attempting to negotiate an end to the fighting.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Lauren Hansen produces The Weekâ€™s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.