1st LD: UN chief "gravely concerned" at fighting in Yemen

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday voiced his grave concern at the ongoing ground fighting and aerial bombardment in Yemen, which left more than 1, 200 people dead over the past six weeks.

"The secretary-general is gravely concerned about the continued ground fighting and aerial bombardment in Yemen and its impact on innocent civilians," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman. "More than 1,200 people have been killed and 300,000 have fled their homes in the past six weeks."

"There are credible reports of families in Aden trapped by the bombardment and snipers targeting civilians in the street," the statement said. "Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, humanitarian warehouses and UN compounds, are unacceptable and in violation of international humanitarian law."

Saudi-led air strikes hit five Yemeni provinces as fighting raged in the southern city of Aden on Wednesday. Houthi rebels' tanks and snipers killed at least 12 civilians overnight in Aden as they advanced toward the center of the city, reports said, adding that a Saudi-led coalition airdropped arms to anti-Houthi fighters in the city of Taiz. Endite