Clashes erupt near Yemen President's residence in Sanaa

Clashes broke out Tuesday near the residence of Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in capital Sanaa amid ongoing confrontations between presidential guards and Shiite Houthi militants.

“Fierce clashes erupted near the residence of the Yemeni President Al-Siteen Street in capital Sanaal,” an eyewitness told Anadolu Agency.

He said a powerful explosion was heard near the presidential building followed by gunfire.

Sanaa has been rocked by deadly clashes for the second consecutive day on Tuesday between Houthi militants and presidential guards, which left at least nine people dead.

Yemen has been suffering lawlessness since a popular uprising that erupted in 2011 ended the autocracy of President Ali Abdullah Saleh a year later.

The Houthis seized control of Sanaa in September of 2014 and have since then moved to extend their control to other provinces.