Houthi Group Joins Protests in Sana'a University Campus, in Sa'ada Arms Dealer Protests against Saleh's Regime

Houthi Group Joins Protests in Sana'a University Campus, in Sa'ada Arms Dealer Protests against Saleh's Regime

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sana'a- Feb 27, 2011- Private sources told media outlets that hundreds Houthi followers joined protesters at Sana'a University campus, demanding the fall of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime.

Witnesses confirmed that Houthis were among protesters in response to their spiritual leader, Abdul Malek Al-Houthi in which he called a week ago his followers to participate in protests against Yemeni government. Houthis are also inflamed by the violent crackdown on protesters in Aden last Friday.

''They carried photos of their leaders, and chanted slogans belonging to Houthi group,'' a protester in the campus told the local media.

On the other hand, Fares Mana'a, a Yemen Arms Dealer, an intermediary in negotiations between the government and the Houthi rebels, and a brother of former governor of Sa'ada province, Hasen Mana'a, said that will hold a huge rally in Sa'ada province calling for the ouster of President Saleh.

Yemeni government imprisoned Fares Mana'a last year on charges of providing arms to Houthi rebels of northern Yemen. Despite the accusations against him, Manna denies selling arms in local Yemeni markets.

The 40-year-old Mana'a, a former organizer for the ruling General People’s Congress, describes himself not as an arms retailer but as a facilitator, arranging deals between Arab and African consumers and foreign suppliers, principally in Russia and Eastern Europe, where he maintains offices.