Sana’a: Yemen’s defence minister arrived at dawn Sunday at his house outside the southern port city of Aden after fleeing the rebel-held capital, security officials said.
The security officials said Major-General Mahmoud Al Subaihi left Sana’a on Saturday and drove all night to reach his house in the village of Ras Al Ara in the coastal area of Al Madhariba outside Aden.
The minister made it safely to Aden but one of his guards was killed in a firefight with Al Houthi militiamen during the escape, an aide told AFP.
One of his guards, who was travelling in a second convoy which left an hour later, was killed when it was ambushed by the Al Houthis near the central city of Taez.
The militiamen captured another five people travelling in the second convoy but later released them under pressure from local tribes, the aide added.
Ahmad Abdullah Al Majeedi, governor of Lahj province who is also from Al Madhariba, hosted a lunch Sunday afternoon for Al Subaihi, attended by dozens of influential officials and high-ranking social dignitaries.
Al Subaihi, who was expected to join President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi in Aden later on Sunday, is expected to resume his duties from Aden.
Hadi and his cabinet resigned after rebels took control of the presidential palace but Al Subaihi accepted to stay in Sana’a as acting defence minister despite threats from Al Houthis. Prime minister Khalid Bahah and most other ministers remain under house arrest in the capital.
Hadi fled to Aden last month, where he withdrew his resignation and declared himself the country’s legitimate president. Hadi has called on ministers to join him in the southern port city to re-establish the government if they can.
On Saturday, Hadi said he now regards Aden as the capital of the united country because of the militia’s grip on Sana’a.