Yemen’s Houthi rebels have denied seeking to charge ships for passage of the vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait, AFP reports.
It comes after a minister in Yemen’s internationally recognised government claimed they were doing so.
The Houthi-aligned Saba news agency has published a statement from the group’s HOCC agency which denied the accuracy of the reports.
“The HOCC further emphasises that transit through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait is free of charge,” the agency adds.
