Country appeals to UN for assistance in battling Houthi rebels

Yemen has reached out to the United Nations to appeal for assistance in battling the Houthi rebels.

The conflict-stricken country urged the body to authorise the deployment of foreign ground forces to drive back Houthi rebels, specifically in Aden and Taiz.

BBC reports that rebel fighters have been advancing in both cities despite 6 weeks of air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition, following a similar plea by Yemen to the Gulf Arab states requesting for military help.

In the letter from Yemen's permanent representative to the UN Khaled Alyemany, the country urged "the international community to quickly intervene by land forces to save Yemen, especially Aden and Taiz"

It also cited an incident on Wednesday when at least 32 people were killed while trying to flee fierce fighting in Aden in a boat, adding that  Houthis were "targeting anything that moves" in Aden.

Earlier on Tuesday, the government called for human rights groups to document "barbaric violations" by the rebels.

According to reports, fighting has been particularly fierce in Aden's al-Tawahi district where rebels have been battling pro-government forces for control.

UN report that over 640 civilians have been killed in the Yemen conflict even as the United States Secretary of State John Kerry has called for a pause in the fighting.