Yemen's ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh confirmed dead

A leader of General People's Congress, Saleh's political party today confirmed Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, 75, is dead.

"He was martyred in the defence of the republic," Faiqa al-Sayyid, a leader of the General People's Congress, said.

Earlier, Yemen's rebel-controlled interior ministry had announced the killing of Saleh while releasing a video of his death.

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A video earlier released by the rebels provided by AFP showed what appeared to be Saleh's body, wrapped in a floral-print blanket with a severe head injury.

Saleh, a former soldier, ruled Yemen for three decades - from 1978 till 2012 - became president aged just 36 after the assassination of president al-Ghashmi.

Saleh stepped down as president in 2012 after a series of missteps and protests by people and pledged to "rebuild" the country.

The controversial ex-president was accused by a UN panel in 2015 accused him of corruption, saying he may have amassed up to $60 billion during his tenure as head of the country.

Saleh's sudden death came even as President Hadi ordered his forces to retake the capital city Sanaa from rebel control.

Rebels from Yemen's Huthi minority backed by Iran had launched an offensive in 2014, in September they stormed the capital Sanaa and seized the government headquarters, state radio and other military sites.

On March 26, 2015,Saudi-led coalition force started air strikes on Yemen's Huthi rebels in operation "Decisive Storm" in an attempt to restore Hadi back in power.

The war in Yemen continues with no clear winner.