Sana’a: Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi has fired his armed forces chief of staff as Al Houthi militiamen delay their withdrawal from the capital they seized in September, media reports said Monday.

Under a presidential decree, General Hussain Naji Hadi Khairan replaces Ahmad Ali Al Ashouel, who moves to the Majlis Al Shura (consultative council), the lower chamber of parliament.

No reason was given for Hadi sacking Al Ashouel late on Sunday. Meanwhile, five roadside bombs targeting Al Houthi fighters exploded in the Yemeni capital Sana’a early on Monday, wounding several people, the ministry of defence website said.

Al Houthis have become the main political force in Yemen since it captured Sana’a in September and then pushed into the country’s heartland south and west of the capital.

The bombs targeted Al Houthi checkpoints and some houses, the ministry website quoted Sana’a’s director of security as saying.

Two other devices were dismantled, the ministry added.

A medical source said eight people had been wounded and three of them were in a critical condition.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombs.

Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has claimed two previous attacks in Sana’a in the past two months, including a car bomb last week that killed three people at the Iranian ambassador’s residence.

Yemen has been in political turmoil since 2011.

Neighbouring Saudi Arabia and Western powers fear the instability could pose a threat to oil supplies and facilitate Al Qaida’s ability to attack Western interests.

AQAP, formed in 2006 by the merger of the Yemeni and Saudi branches of the network, has for years been seen by Washington as one of the movement’s most dangerous branches. Washington has used drones in Yemen to target the militants.

Two Western hostages were among at least 11 people killed during a failed mission by US-led forces to rescue them at the weekend in Shabwa province, a militant stronghold in southern Yemen. Several members of AQAP were also killed.

Western governments fear the advances made by Al Houthi fighters have bolstered support among Yemeni Sunnis for AQAP.