Yemen Shiite  rebels(Houthis) opened fire on demonstrators who had gathered outside the university in the capital, Sana’a, to denounce what they called a “coup” against President Abdurabuh Mansur Hadi, protesters said.

Three demonstrators were wounded and two others were beaten by armed Houthis wearing the uniforms of government security forces, Ali Ahmed Abdullah, a protester, said by phone. Houthi gunmen also arrested 30 of the demonstrators outside Sana’a University, he said.

Yemen was plunged deeper into turmoil last week after Houthi fighters overran the presidential palace on Jan. 20, prompting the U.S.-backed Hadi to resign two days later. The power vacuum raises the risk that the country may fracture, creating conditions for al-Qaeda to further expand its operations in a country bordering Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter.

A parliamentary vote today on whether to approve Hadi’s resignation was postponed to give all lawmakers a chance to attend the session, state-run Saba news agency reported. No new date was announced.

Yemen’s government has struggled to exert authority over much of the country amid challenges by separatists, political protesters and Islamist militants. The rebels from Yemen’s north, who say they have been marginalized by Sunni Muslims for decades, have become an increasingly influential force since the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in a popular uprising in 2011.

The tumult engulfing the country has extended to the southern port city of Aden, where non-Houthi militias clashed with government forces who recently announced they are no longer taking orders from the central government. One of the security personnel was killed, Brigadier Mohammed Musaed, a member of the security committee in Aden, said by phone.

Bloomberg