AKIPRESS.COM - Fighting in the Yemeni city of Aden has intensified as Houthi rebels try to seize control of the city, reports BBC.

Concern is growing over the number of casualties after heavy clashes between local militia fighters and rebel forces.

Witnesses have reported bodies lying in the street after rebel shelling and sniper attacks.

The fierce fighting has continued despite airstrikes on Houthi forces by a Saudi-led coalition.

Houthi rebels allied with troops loyal to the former President Ali Abdullah Saleh have reportedly advanced deeper into Aden to try and wrest control of the city from fighters loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

As the fighting continues, there have been increasing concern about the number of casualties.

A spokeswoman for the aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) told the BBC that its hospital in Aden had received more than 500 injured people from all sides in the conflict over the last two weeks.

"The major injuries are gunshots and since the bombs we have some people with injuries linked to explosions," said spokeswoman Marie-Elisabeth Ingres.