A Yemeni Salafist was killed and several others were injured on Friday in clashes with Shiite Zaidi rebels in the country's north, tribal sources said.

The clashes erupted in the city of Rada in Amran governorate, 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of the capital Sanaa, where Salafists and tribesmen tried to prevent a Zaidi protest against administrative appointments in their regions.The two sides, armed with rocket-propelled grenades, brought in reinforcements and the situation was very tense in the city, witnesses said.

Residents said tension escalated after the appointment of supporters of the Islamist party Al-Islah to head Yemen's northern provinces, a move rejected by the Zaidis.

The clashes come ahead of a national dialogue scheduled for later this year as part of a political agreement that led to the February departure of president Ali Abdullah Saleh following a year of unrest.Zaidi rebels have indicated they would take part in the dialogue.

Dozens of people have been killed since last year in sectarian clashes between the rebels and Sunni Salafists trying to tighten their grip on northern Yemen, in the absence of government control. Zaidis make up a minority in the Sunni-majority country.