Britain 'may hold vote on EU in June 2016'

LONDON • British Prime Minister David Cameron intends to hold a referendum on the country's membership of the European Union around June next year, reported the Independent yesterday.

The newspaper cited a source as saying the 2016 date, and the parliamentary Bill to approve it, would not be a barrier in the House of Lords.

A spokesman for Mr Cameron's Downing Street office declined to comment on the report, which said the prime minister would announce the timing of the referendum during the annual conference of his Conservative Party in October.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Yemen rebel leader rejects truce bid

ADEN • Pro-government forces battled retreating rebels on the northern outskirts of Yemen's second city of Aden yesterday ahead of a humanitarian truce declared by the Saudi-led coalition bombing the Iran-backed insurgents.

But Houthi rebel leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi rejected the truce. A statement on a Twitter account believed to be managed by his group said it was to allow pro-government fighters to regroup.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE