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UN: civilian death toll in Yemen conflict tops 1,500

UN: civilian death toll in Yemen conflict tops 1,500

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Houthi fighters and pro-Houthi police troopers fire tear gas on anti-Houthi protesters demonstrating in Yemen's southwestern city of Taiz March 22, 2015. REUTERS/Anees Mahyoub

BERLIN: The United Nations' human rights office says the number of civilians killed in three months of violence in Yemen has risen above 1,500. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said Tuesday that, between June 17 and July 3, at least 92 civilians were killed and another 179 injured. It said that brings the total number of civilians killed since March 27 to 1,528, while 3,605 have been injured. Yemen's fighting pits Houthi rebels and troops loyal to the former president against southern separatists, local and tribal militias, Sunni Islamic militants and loyalists of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who is now based in Saudi Arabia. The rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, in September. In March, a Saudi-led coalition began launching airstrikes against the rebels and their allies.