At least 27 Houthi militants have been killed and dozens of others injured in continuous clashes between the militants and a pro-government clan in Yemen's northern Saada province.

The Interior Ministry said on Tuesday the casualties were the result of three-day fighting in the Manbah district in which heavy weapons have been used.

The fighting erupted after armed Houthis started battles against the pro-government Al Jalha tribe, it said, but reported no reasons for the fight.

A mediation commission from the Yemen Committee for Peace in Saada failed to contain the situation after Houthis declined to meet its members, it said.

"Houthi militants also shot dead two citizens in Saqain district and four others in Manbah district, as they continued to breach a ceasefire reached earlier this year."

In April 2010, the government and the Houthi Group reached the ceasefire ending a six-year war in the far north, but many breaches by Houthis have since been reported.