Former Yemen president flees capital after rebels let him go

Sana'a: Aides close to Yemen's former president say he has fled the capital after Shi`ite rebels who surrounded his house let him go under international and local pressure.

The aides said this morning that former president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi will go to Aden, then leave the country to receive medical treatment.

Hadi has been under house arrest following a coup by Shi`ite Houthi rebels. The rebels earlier captured the capital, Sana`a, in September.

The aides say the rebels let Hadi go after pressure from the United Nations, the US, Russia and local political parties.

The aides spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren't authorised to speak to journalists.