Hundreds of thousands in Yemen march in support of rebels

SANAA, Yemen – Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis are marching in support of Shiite Houthi rebels and their ally, former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The Saturday march in the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, was in support of a new combined governing council the rebels and Saleh announced late last month. The internationally recognized government and the United Nations rejected the council.

Yemen's war pits troops and militiamen loyal to the government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, against the Shiite rebels and Saleh loyalists. The Houthis captured Sanaa in 2014, and the U.S.-backed coalition began its offensive against them in March 2015.

Peace talks collapsed earlier this month, and the Saudi-led forces resumed heavy airstrikes shortly thereafter.