by Our Foreign Desk

DOZENS of Saudi-led air raids targeted a police camp in the Yemeni capital Sanaa yesterday morning, destroying civilian shops and cars.

Residents of the city panicked as administrative buildings and shops suffered damage, with metal shutters twisted off their frames, windows broken and doors blown off their hinges.

Streets were littered with shattered glass, toppled street lights and overturned cars.

The police camp which was the air strikes’ target is in central Sanaa, close to the presidential palace. Ambulances rushed to the scene and thick black smoke covered the whole area, obstructing visibility.

Many of Sanaa’s residents sought shelter in basements. Shops were closed and city streets deserted.

The Saudi-led coalition of nations as far flung as Morocco has bombarded Yemen for two months in an attempt to restore deposed president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to power.

Mr Hadi’s forces are fighting the so-called Houthi rebels and units of the army which support President Ali Abdullah Saleh control the north-west of the country, including the capital.

Witnesses said that planes also bombed a naval base in the Houthi-controlled western city of Hodeida and the northern rebel strongholds of Saada and Hajjah.

On Tuesday, militias supposedly loyal to Mr Hadi — but which also want a separatist state in southern Yemen — captured the southern city of Dhale from the 33rd Armoured Brigade, which supports Mr Saleh.

World Health Organisation head Margaret Chan said yesterday that the conflict had left up to 2,000 people dead and 8,000 wounded, including hundreds of women and children.