By Mohamed al-Samei
SANAA
Fierce clashes erupted Tuesday between Al-Qaeda militant group and Shiite Houthi gunmen in the central Yemeni city of Rada'a, eyewitnesses said.
"The clashes, which remain ongoing, have forced many shop owners to close their businesses as several explosions echoed across the city since the early morning," one witness told Anadolu Agency.
It is unclear yet whether the clashes left any casualties.
Violent confrontations have been raging in Rada'a between Houthis and Al-Qaeda for several days now, leaving several people dead on both sides.
Houthis have been controlling the Yemeni capital Sanaa since September 21, even as they signed an agreement with the Yemeni President to end their country's political stalemate a few hours earlier.
Since then Houthis have been trying to extend their control to other Yemeni provinces.
Yemen has been suffering turmoil since a popular uprising that erupted in 2011 toppled longstanding president Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2012.
Some Arab capitals accuse Iran of backing the ongoing Houthi insurgency in Yemen.
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