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Shiite rebels 'seize city of Taiz and airport'

Shiite rebels backed by supporters of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh have taken over parts of Yemen's third largest city of Taiz and its airport.

The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Yemen's security situation.

It comes after the US announced it was withdrawing its troops from Yemen due to the worsening security situation amid mounting violence by armed rival groups including Houthi rebels, al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants.

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UN mediator: Yemen situation could become lengthy conflict

A United Nations mediator warned of the possibility of the current situation in Yemen escalating into a lengthy and protracted conflict today.

Speaking via video link UN mediator Jamal Benomar told the UN security council it would be an illusion to think Houthi militia could take over the whole country or that President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi could assemble enough troops to liberate Yemen.

He said: "Any side that would want to push the country in either direction would be inviting a protracted conflict in the vein of an Iraq-Libya-Syria combined scenario."

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Shiite rebels 'seize city of Taiz and airport'

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