Manama: Heavy fighting continued on Sunday in the Yemeni city of Taiz where, according to local medical officials, at least 17 civilians, including 10 women and one girl, were killed and dozens were wounded during the weekend when rockets hit a busy market.

The rockets were launched at around 3.30pm local time by Iran-backed Al Houthi militants and supporters of the ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who have placed the city under siege.

The market was filled with residents shopping in preparation for the holy month of Ramadan, expected to start on Monday following the sighting of the moon.

Reports said that at least 30 civilians were wounded in the attack amid fears the casualty figures would rise.

The heavy fighting on Sunday has forced residents to stay in their homes and avoid venturing outside.

Residents reported that they could not sleep on Saturday evening because of the rockets and the fire.

Resistance fighters in Taiz launched counter attacks against Al Houthi militants in a bid to break the onslaught on the neighbourhoods peopled by civilians.

A pro-resistance group said that Al Houthis were pushed back in some areas such as Sibara, Al Majar Mountain and Al Aqeeda area.

“Dozens of Al Houthi rebels have fled the areas as members of the resistance advanced,” the report in Al Yemen Al Youm said. The claims could not be corroborated by an independent source.

Residents have called the Al Houthi attack on Friday a massacre.

The civilian death toll was one of the highest since a truce was announced on April 10 to pave the way for peace talks in Kuwait.

Despite promises to achieve a prisoner swap and other measures to help build a positive atmosphere that would bring the armed conflict to end, not much has materialised on the ground, prompting the residents to call for a greater action by the international community.

On Saturday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attacks in Taiz, carried out with heavy weapons, including rockets, mortars and artillery.

“Rocket fire reportedly hit a busy market in the city. Attacks directed against civilians and populated areas, including markets, are strictly prohibited,” a spokesperson for Ban Ki-moon said in a statement.

In the statement, the UN secretary general did not refer to the party that fired the rockets or launched the attacks and called for an independent investigation to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.

“The Secretary-General continues to urge all parties to the conflict to cease all military activities in accordance with the nationwide cessation of hostilities. He further calls on them to refrain from any actions that could result in further civilian casualties. It is particularly regrettable that Taiz continues to pay a heavy toll in civilian losses despite the cessation of hostilities,” the statement said.

Ban Ki-moon called on the parties participating in the peace talks in Kuwait to negotiate “in good faith” and urgently work with his Special Envoy, Esmail Ould Shaikh Ahmad, to bring a peaceful end to the conflict. He also urged the importance of the immediate release of prisoners and detainees, the statement added.