SANAA
Several protesters were reportedly abducted on Saturday by members of the Shiite Houthi movement during an anti-Houthi demonstration in Yemeni capital Sanaa
Houthi militants abducted a number of protesters, including youth activist Fouad al-Hamdani, and attacked several others with bladed weapons, eyewitnesses told The Anadolu Agency.
Scores of protesters took part in the rally, which was called by Yemeni activists to protest what they describe as Houthi "coup" against President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi.
Similar protests broke out in the central provinces of Taizz, Ibb and Dhamar.
Houthi leaders could not be reached for a comment on the allegation.
Last September, the Houthis emerged as a formidable political and military force after taking control of the capital before moving on to establish control over other parts of the country.
The rise of the Houthis has pitted the Shiite group against local Sunni tribes and Al-Qaeda, the latter of which is said to remain active in the country.
Fractious Yemen has remained in a state of turmoil since pro-democracy protests in 2011 forced autocratic President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down one year later.
