Sanaa, Sep 9 (IANS): At least one protestor was killed Tuesday when Yemeni riot police dispersed thousands of activists near the prime minister's office in the capital city of Sanaa.
Witnesses said that supporters of the Shia Houthi group were trying to enter the compound of the prime minister's office when riot police fired warning shots to disperse them, Xinhua reported.
The protestors started to set up sit-in tents in front of the compound after the clashes, they said.
Police officials said that some protestors fired at the security forces guarding the compound.
The fresh clashes erupted two days after police used tear gas and water cannons to break up a rally in front of the interior ministry during which 10 protestors were injured.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi, who led the Shia military group, urged his supporters to stage mass rallies around the prime minister's office early Tuesday.
Al-Houthi has threatened Yemeni authorities with further unrest if they do not respond to demands to resume fuel subsidies and to dismiss the government, EFE news agency reported.
The Yemeni authorities said police had exercised restraint to avoid further escalation of the tension while the Houthi group said its supporters would continue "peaceful" demonstrations to overthrow the government.
The Houthi movement, which calls itself "Ansar Allah", has been leading mass protests in Yemen's capital Sanaa for more than three weeks in a bid to force the government to retreat from a decision taken in July to halt subsidies of fuel, and to step down.
Authorities reduced the prices of petrol and diesel last week, while Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi pledged to form a new government within a week.
The movement, however, is demanding a complete resumption of the subsidies programme.
Al-Houthi criticised the president for counting on the support of the US in the showdown with the group which reportedly receives money and arms from Iran.
"I say to the authorities, if they bet on the American position, that is wrong. Israel bet on America and did not win over the Palestinian people."