SANAA, Yemen: A Yemeni official, citing a report presented by Yemen's national security chief Ali al-Ansi to the country's consultative council, has said at least 42 Yemeni soldiers have been killed and 81 wounded in over a week of sporadic clashes with Shiite Muslim in the north of the country.

Shiite Zeidia and Shiite Imamia both make up 34 percent of Yemen's 19 million population.

They are not allowed by the government to observe their days i.e. celebrations and mourning gatherings marking the martyrdom anniversaries and birth anniversaries of Holy Prophet (p) and his Ahlul Beit (AS) respectively.

In the recent years, the authorities declaring a ban on celebration of Idd Al-Ghadir _ an event when the holy Prophet Muhammad (p) declared Al-Imam Ali (AS) his first infallible successor saying Mann Kuntu Maulahu Fa Haza Aliyon Maulahu Whomsoever I am Master Ali is his Master also, had warned that in case of violation of this ban Shiite will be arrested and their areas will be attacked.