The Houthi Group appointed on Saturday Fares Mana'a, a Yemeni Arms Dealer, as governor of Yemen's northern province of Sa'ada after the fall of the Saleh loyal governor of Sa'ada.
Sources said that the appointment came after Taha Hajer, the current governor left the province and fled to Sana'a. They added that all the leaders of the army headquarters within the province handed over their military equipment, including their personal guns, arms, tanks, and vehicles to the leaders of the Houthi Group.
Houthis said that they declared on Saturday the independence of Sa'ada province from Sana'a authorities. This step came after clashes have been taking place in northern Sa'ada for months between the Houthis and pro-government tribesmen, belonging to Sheikh Othman Majali, a Yemeni parliament member.
The government was unable to confirm or deny the fall of Sa'ada.
In February hundreds of Houthi followers joined protesters at Sana'a University campus, demanding the fall of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime.