At least eight supporters of a slain opposition preacher died in armed clashes with the Yemeni army and police in northwest of the country after they shot dead four policemen, local government sources said, according to AFP.
Army and police units launched an offensive in Saada province against followers of Sheikh Hussein Badr Eddin al-Huthi, who was killed by the army in 2004.
It followed a dawn attack by armed men against a police patrol in Nushur, northeast of the town of Saada, which killed four police and wounded three.
Another 12 members of the Yemeni security forces were injured.
