CRI听力:Houthi Rebels in Near Total Control of Yemen's Capital

Yemen's Houthi fighters have taken up guard duties at the President's official residence, but say they have not ousted Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The move follows two days of fighting that have put the Shi'ite rebels in all but total control of the capital Sanaa.

They shelled Hadi's residence and swept into the nearby presidential palace in what the army has been calling a coup.

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has threatened to take further measures unless Hadi bows to his demand for constitutional changes that would increase Houthi power.

He also accused the current government of colluding with al-Qaida.

"At this historic and exceptional point in time, when conspiracies have been plotted against the country, there is a great danger facing the country. We will not worry about anything and nothing will ever stop us from pressuring to realise the peace and cooperation treaty."

President Hadi is regarded as an important U.S. ally in the fight against the Yemeni branch of al-Qaida.

But his grip on power appeared increasingly precarious following developments in Sanaa this week.

The latest escalation began early Monday, when heavy fighting broke out around the presidential palace and Hadi's residence, and the Houthis seized control of state-run media.