Explosions ripped through a northern area of Yemen's capital today as a powerful tribal group backing the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh battled his security forces.
Global powers have been pressing Mr Saleh to sign a Gulf-led deal to end his three-decade rule and stem spreading chaos in unstable Yemen, a haven for al-Qaeda militants and neighbour to the world's biggest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia.
Witnesses said they heard several blasts but were not sure of the cause or the damage near the Hasaba district - the focal point of fighting last week that killed at least 115 people and pushed the country closer to civil war.
A further 37 people are reported to have died overnight as clashes intensified.
Yesterday explosions rocked a nearby northern district that houses the headquarters of an army division headed by Ali Mohsen, an influential general who has joined the opposition.
Residents also reported overnight fighting near Sanaa airport, which was closed briefly last week during skirmishes between Mr Saleh's forces and opponents within his own powerful Hashed tribal confederation, who are led by Sadeq al-Ahmar.
Fourteen soldiers were killed in fighting with the tribesmen, the defence ministry website said.
Medical officials said at least five other people had been killed in the recent fighting, which may have entered a new phase with some troops in armoured vehicles joining the opposition, suggesting more military defections from Mr Saleh.
Some military leaders broke away from Mr Saleh in March after his troops fired on protesters calling for an end to his 33-year-old rule. Yemen is on the brink of financial ruin, with about a third of its 23 million people facing chronic hunger.
A US state department spokesman yesterday urged him to leave office "and to move Yemen forward".
Reuters