IFP- A report by Xinhua says the Iranian embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa has been attacked and set ablaze during clashes between the Houthis and loyalists of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, but sources in Sanaa have denied the report.
According to a Xinhua reporter on the scene, the fire broke out after the embassy was attacked by heavy weapons, but it remained unknown who were responsible for the incident.
A security official said about 20 staff members of the embassy were trapped inside the building.
The embassy is located near the presidential palace and is close to the residence of a son of Saleh in southwestern Sanaa.
More than 100 dead bodies could be seen lying on the streets leading to the diplomatic complex in the Hadda area.
An official from the Houthi-controlled Interior Ministry told Xinhua that at least 200 militants from both warring sides had been killed and more others were wounded in the clashes near the Iranian embassy.
The embassy is located near the highlands controlled by Houthi Ansarullah movement, where the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes for five times on Saturday midnight.
Later on Monday, the IRIB news agency said sources in Sanaa dismissed Xinhuas report.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi urged all Yemeni groups to settle their internal differences through dialogue.
In reaction to the recent developments in Yemen, Qassemi said on Sunday, We hope Yemeni forces would resolve their differences through dialogue to prevent foreign enemies from taking advantage of the current situation.
In his Sunday statement, he also expressed regret over the recent clashes in Yemen and called on all Yemeni forces to keep calm and show self-restraint.
Referring to the continuation of brutal foreign aggression against Yemenis that resulted in the destruction of the infrastructures, a long siege, blackout, and mass murder of the Yemeni people, he raised hope that all Yemeni political parties and movements would show solidarity, and support the national and united front against aggression of foreign enemies.