Yemen's capital witnesses mass pro-Houthi demonstrations

A mass rally has been held in Yemen's capital by supporters of Houthi rebels and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis took to the streets of Sanaa, organised by anti-government forces who still control much of the country.

The march was a show of support for the new governing councils unveiled by the rebels last month, and led to ending hopes of peace talks with government officials.

The move was rejected by the internationally-recognised government, and criticised by the UN who were leading peace talks in Kuwait between the warring factions.

Later on Saturday, Saudi-led coalition air raids hit the presidential palace in Sanaa and other areas in the city.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Oman - one of the locations used for peace talks - Houthi negotiators said that Saudi forces were preventing them from returning to Yemen by blocking international flights to Sanaa's airport.

Since then, war has resumed and Saudi-led coalition aircraft have continued to bomb the Houthi-held Yemeni capital.

The Houthis captured Sanaa in September 2014, forcing the government to flee the capital.

Expansion into other parts of the country by anti-government forced led the US-backed coalition to intervene, initially from the air and then on the ground.

The war has left thousands dead, and caused a humanitarian crisis in the country with hundreds of thousands of Yemeni refugees at risk of hunger and disease due to blockades and fighting.

Agencies contributed to this story.