Iran claims it is not helping rebel group

Albuquerque News.Net
Thursday 19th November, 2009

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has denied rebel groups in Yemen are being assisted by Tehran.

At a news conference in Tehran, Mottaki spoke on Yemeni accusations that Shi'ite dominated Iran has been supporting Houthi rebels, who have been fighting with Yemen troops since August.

The Houthi rebels belong to the Shi'ite tribe, which is a minority group in Yemen.

There have been many reports of fighting along the Yemen-Saudi border between government troops and the Houthis, who accuse the government of oppression.

The fighting has spilled over the border into Saudi Arabia, which is under Sunni rule.

Saudi Arabia has confirmed that Houthis had crossed into Saudi territory and has accused the rebels of digging tunnels and trenches along the border.

Saudi forces have been bombing the Houthi positions, trying to get the rebels to retreat back into Yemen.

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