Houthi minister 'assassinated' in Yemeni capital

A Houthi official was killed on Tuesday by gunmen in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, in a rare assassination of an official in the armed movement that controls the city.

Hassan Zaid, minister of sports and youth in the Houthi administration, died in hospital from his wounds after gunmen opened fire on his car in an area of the capital that houses embassies, two sources close to his family told Reuters.

“Criminal elements intercepted the minister of sports and youth’s vehicle, which his daughter was driving, and opened fire at it leading to his death after he was taken to the Yemeni-German Hospital,” the rebel-run Interior Ministry said.

Houthi-run Al Masirah television confirmed the killing, citing the group's interior ministry as saying Zaid was assassinated by "criminal elements" linked to a Saudi-led military coalition engaged in Yemen. It said Zaid's daughter was also in the car and was seriously injured.

The coalition has not commented on the attack.