OVER 50 DETAINEES OF AL-HOUTHI GROUP RELEASED

SANA'A, April 05 (Saba) - The security authorities in Hodeidah
province have freed 54 detainees of al-Houthi rebel group, who had
been arrested in the central prison during the sixth war, ignited by
al-Houthis in the northwest region, the Interior Ministry reported
on Monday.

The security authorities in the province said that the release of
the Houthis came as a result of superior directives.

It is worthy to mention that more than 170 Yemenis were released
last month, who had been arrested by al-Houthi elements during a
7-month war between government troops and the al-Houthi group,
within the implementation of a ceasefire deal that was put into
effect last February in order to end the al-Houthi rebellion.

As a result of the ceasefire deal, displaced people began to return
to their villages.

The Saada governor estimates that about 300,000 Yemenis have been
displaced by the conflict in Saada and Harf Sufyan.

On February 11, President Ali Abdullah Saleh decided to halt the
military operations in Saada after the al-Houthis had announced
their acceptance to the government's conditions.

The ceasefire deal contained:

- Al-Houthi commitment to ceasefire, eliminating landmines and
leaving positions and hideouts. - Rebel withdrawal from all
districts of Saada and stopping interference in the local
government's duties. - Returning looted military and public
equipment and properties of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. - Releasing
Yemeni and Saudi captives. - Obeying the law and constitution. -
Pledging not to attack Saudi lands.

The ceasefire has come to prevent bloodshed and bring peace into the
region. Saada has witnessed a sporadic six-year war between the
government troops and al-Houthis since 2004. The last round of the
war was erupted in August 2009.

UNHCR said that there is an urgent need to address the dangers posed
by landmines and unexploded ordnance, as people begin to return to
their areas of origin in Saada, making reference to the Interior
Ministry reports that showed that since the ceasefire was announced
at least five people have been killed and 20 injured as a result of
contact with such explosive devices.

BA