Houthis, accused of coup, surround Yemeni PM's residence

A military vehicle belonging to Houthi fighters is positioned on a street leading to the Presidential Palace during clashes in Sanaa January 19, 2015. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen's powerful Houthi movement fought artillery battles with the army near the presidential palace in Sanaa on Monday, surrounded the prime minister's residence and drew accusations they were mounting a coup.

Explosions echoed across the city and smoke hung over downtown buildings as the most intense clashes since the Shi'ite Muslim Houthi movement seized the capital in September, throwing the fragile Arab state deep into turmoil.