Yemen ex-President Saleh offers talks to Saudi-led coalition

The former president of Yemen has suggested that he is open to talking to the Saudi-led coalition that his forces have been fighting for years. Ali Abdullah Saleh said on TV that he would be ready to "turn the page" if the coalition lifted a blockade on northern Yemen and halted its attacks. The coalition praised his offer but Houthi rebels, his allies until this week, accused him of a "coup".

Clashes between Mr Saleh's forces and Houthi fighters broke out on Wednesday. The Houthis are backed by Iran but have been his allies against the internationally-recognised government since 2014.

There were reports of further fighting on the streets of the capital, Sanaa, on Saturday. Explosions and gunfire were concentrated in the southern suburbs of the city, where relatives of Mr Saleh live.

The two groups had been fighting the government of current President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi together for nearly three years. Clashes erupted when Mr Saleh's supporters accused Houthi rebels of breaking into the city's main mosque complex.

UCJ, UNILORIN.