Yemen's ex-president Saleh, relatives killed by Houthis

Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh gestures as he arrives to a rally in Sanaa, Feb 27, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

SANAA - A senior Houthi official confirmed to Xinhua on Monday that former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, his nephew, relatives and the general secretary of Saleh's party were killed.

"Saleh and his party's Assistant General Secretary Yasser al-Awadhi were killed on Monday morning while they were trying to escape through Khawlan district on the southeastern outskirts of Sanaa on their way to escape to Saudi-backed government-controlled Marib province," the official confirmed to Xinhua.

"Saleh's nephew Tarek was killed also early Monday morning in his home in Haddah quarter in the capital Sanaa," the official said.

"Saleh's party's General Secretary Arif al-Zuka was also killed in Sanaa," the official added.

The security situation and clashes in the capital Sanaa and surrounding provinces have eased.

Meanwhile, Saudi-led coalition warplanes were still hovering over the capital.