Fierce overnight clashes rock Yemen's Hodeida

A brief ceasefire in the Yemeni city of Hodeida has been shattered following overnight clashes, agencies reported on Sunday.

Air strikes and gun battles rocked the port city overnight with at least 29 fighters killed, including 22 Houthi fighters, AFP reported.

The fighting follows a UN-brokered ceasefire being agreed by Yemen's warring parties following a week of talks in Sweden.

A pro-government source told AFP that seven rebels were captured during an attack on al-Durayhimi district, which lies about 20 kilometres south of Hodeida city.

A resident told the agency that the sounds of "fierce" clashes and jets could be heard throughout the night until around 5am local time on Sunday.

It comes after a hard-won accord was agreed in Sweden between Yemen's warring sides, where the status on Hodeida was a key point of disagreement.

A truce for the city was due to be following by a withdrawal of Houthi rebels and other fighters from Hodeida, which is the main entry point for aid into the country.

The Houthis on Saturday accused pro-government forces - backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE - of shelling residential neighbourhoods in Hodeida city.

This comes despite warnings from the international community and aid agencies that the war in Yemen has left more than 14 million people on the brink of famine.

Also agreed during the talks was a prisoner swap of some 15,000 detainees, while there was "mutual understanding" regarding aid deliveries to Yemen's third city Taiz - under control of loyalists but besieged by rebels.

The two sides also agreed to meet again in late January for talks on establishing a more comprehensive peace accord.

The UN says the conflict has killed some 10,000 people and unleashed the world's worst humanitarian crisis, while others have put the figure five times higher.