Yemeni soldiers attack army base

Yemeni pro-opposition soldiers (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/185030.html

Yemeni troops supporting anti-regime protests against Ali Abdullah Saleh have attacked a military base in Hajja, in northern Yemen, killing one soldier.

“The dissident soldiers headed by Abdullah Siraj launched an incursion into a military checkpoint stationed alongside the wall of the military base and a school nearby and attempted to occupy the base, killing one soldier of the checkpoint and wounding a passer-by near the school,” a local military official was quoted by the state-run Saba news agency as saying on Thursday.

“The government forces confronted the attack as the leadership of the military base exercised the maximum restraint to prevent further bloodshed,” he explained.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters have poured into streets in Yemen's major cities since late January, demanding the ouster of Saleh from power, who has been in office since 1978.

The Yemeni uprising has entailed a string of deadly clashes between anti-regime protesters and pro-government forces across the impoverished Arab country.

Saleh has been receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia for injuries he received in an attack on his presidential palace on June 3.

The Yemeni protesters have also been demanding the formation of a transitional council, following the relocation of Saleh to Saudi Arabia, which enables the handover of power to them.

Despite reports that the 69-year-old Saleh is in serious condition with burns covering 40 percent of his body, Yemeni and Saudi officials insist that his condition is improving and that he will return to Yemen soon.

Yemeni activists are demanding that Saleh and his aides be put on trial for the killing of hundreds of people since the outbreak of the popular revolt in the country.

Yemenis call for interim council

Anti-government protestors read local newspapers featuring on the front page a photograph of Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and a headline that reads in Arabic, "What's after Ali Abdullah Saleh?", in Sana'a, Yemen on June 7, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183686.html

Yemeni protesters have converged on the capital Sana'a to call for the establishment of an interim council to block President Ali Abdullah Saleh's return to the country.

In an attempt to fill the power vacuum in Yemen, hundreds of protesters, rejuvenated by Saleh's departure, demanded the creation of an interim council, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

The Yemeni leader is currently receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

The Yemeni president was injured in an attack on the presidential palace on Friday, June 3.

On Tuesday, a Yemeni official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Saleh has burns covering about 40 percent of his body, Reuters reported.

His vice president said on Monday that Saleh would return to Yemen in a matter of days.

However, earlier reports suggested that Saleh is unlikely to return to Yemen anytime soon due to the severity of his injuries.

The protesters gathered outside Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's residence and called for a swift transition of power.

"We are demanding an interim council as a second goal of the revolution. Now the president of the republic has departed and hopefully he won't return. The second goal is for all the political parties to form an interim council, headed by the vice (president) and that is why we came out, to demand the formation of an interim council and the formation of a government to run the country," protester Abdullah al-Shrif said.

Anti-government protesters have turned out for rallies in the major cities of Yemen since late January, demanding that Saleh step down after over three decades in power.

'Saleh has burns on 40% of his body'

Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183668.html

Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh has suffered much more serious injuries than first reported in a rocket attack on his palace, a US official says.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said on Tuesday that Saleh has burns covering over roughly 40 percent of his body, Reuters reported.

He also suffered extensive shrapnel injuries from wood splintered by the rocket attack on his palace, the official added.

“His face was quite charred,” said the official. “The burns are serious; he is not as well as his aides are portraying it.”

The Yemeni leader is currently receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia. His vice president said on Monday Saleh would return to Yemen within days.

However, the severity of Saleh's injuries suggested that he would not be returning to Yemen anytime soon.

Anti-government protesters, who have turned out for rallies in the major cities since late January, called for a swift transfer of power in Saleh's absence.

Protesters in Yemen have staged rallies across the country, demanding Saleh to step down after over three decades of rule.

Gunfire, shelling kill 19 in Yemen

Gunfire and shelling have killed 19 people, including three children, in southern Yemen. (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183586.html

Nineteen people, including three children, have been killed in an exchange of gunfire and shelling as Yemeni troops and armed groups clash in south of the country.

Military and medical officials report that dozens of unidentified gunmen attacked an army position in the southern province of Abyan late Monday night, where nine soldiers and six of the attackers died in the ensuing gunfight, the Associated Press reported.

On Tuesday, clashes also broke out in the southern city of Taizz between gunmen and Yemeni troops near the presidential palace.

Four civilians, including three children, were killed when a tank near the palace fired a shell that landed at a nearby residential area.

Protesters in Yemen have turned out for near daily demonstrations in Yemen's major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment and demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in office since 1978 and mainly backed by the US and Saudi Arabian governments.

Saleh arrived in Saudi Arabia late Saturday along with several other top Yemeni officials allegedly for treatment of wounds they suffered in a rocket attack on the presidential palace in Sana'a on June 3.

Reports say Yemeni Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has taken over as acting president and supreme commander of the armed forces.

Hundreds of people have been killed in a brutal crackdown against anti-government protesters by forces loyal to Saleh since the outbreak of the Yemeni uprising.

Yemenis seek Saleh's prosecution

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183478.html

Yemenis have called for the prosecution of President Ali Abdullah Saleh over the killing of hundreds of anti-government protesters.

Celebrating Saleh's departure, thousands of Yemenis gathered at Change Square in the capital of Sana'a on Monday, saying Saleh must be brought to justice for his crimes against humanity.

Forces loyal to Saleh killed hundreds of anti-government protesters and wounded many others since the beginning of anti-regime demonstrations in late January.

Saleh, who was wounded in an attack on his presidential compound on Friday, left the country for Saudi Arabia on Saturday for medical treatment.

Yemeni Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, as required by the constitution, took over Saleh's responsibilities as president following his departure.

Saudi sources say Saleh is recovering in a hospital in Riyadh after undergoing two successful operations on Sunday and that he would return to Yemen after two weeks.

The Yemeni opposition, however, says it would do everything within its power to prevent the return of the despotic ruler from Saudi Arabia.

"Despite my regret over what happened, the president will have lost all sense of judgment if he thinks he can return," said Hassan Zaid, the head of Yemen's opposition Al-Haq Zaidi party.

"His return would also endanger his own life and those of others around him," Zaid said.

He added that the palace attack's "message is that Saleh is not wanted, not only by the opposition but also those closest to him," suggesting that the attack on the presidential palace may have been carried out by dissidents within Saleh's own regime.

Yemen's powerful Hashid tribe, whose members have been fighting a deadly battle with the regime forces in Sana'a over the past two weeks, has denied any involvement in the attack, which left 11 people dead and wounded several high ranking Yemeni officials, including the president, his premier and the governor of Sana'a.

Meanwhile, Yemen's main opposition coalition says it will accept a transfer of power to the vice-president.

"The opposition supports the complete transfer of power to the vice-president," Sultan el-Atwani, a leading figure in the Joint Meeting Parties, told Reuters news agency.

"In the case this falls through, the opposition and the youth of the revolution have alternative options, meaning a transitional council," he added.

Yemen opposition to block Saleh's return

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183298.html

The Yemeni opposition says it will do everything within its power to prevent the return of the country's president from Saudi Arabia, where he has fled to under the pretext of receiving treatment.

"We will work with all our strength to prevent his return," Mohammed Qahtan, spokesman for the Common Forum parliamentary opposition collation said on Sunday, referring to President Ali Abdullah Saleh, AFP reported.

"We see this as the beginning of the end of this tyrannical and corrupt regime," he added.

Following a reported rocket attack on the presidential palace on Friday, Saleh went to the kingdom along with several other top Yemeni officials to be treated for alleged serious shrapnel wounds and burns on his chest and neck.

Afterwards, dozens of Yemeni youth celebrated what they called the fall of the regime in the capital of Sana'a, chanting, “Today, Yemen is a newborn" and "This is it, the regime has fallen."

The president has been in office for nearly 33 years with several opposition members arguing that his long-promised reforms have not been materialized.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for near daily demonstrations in Yemen's major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment and demanding Saleh's ouster.

The opposition spokesman said Saleh's sons must be "forced to hand power over to (Vice President) Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi," who under the constitution replaces the absent ruler.

"We are ready to cooperate with Abdrabuh but the problem is whether his children are ready to hand power over to him," he said.

Yemen youth celebrate Saleh departure

The Yemeni youth regard embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh's departure to Saudi Arabia as the end of his reign

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183264.html

The Yemeni youth celebrate what they call the fall of the regime after Yemen's embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh left for Saudi Arabia to receive medical treatment for his injuries.

“Today, Yemen is newborn," chanted dozens of youths in Change Square, AFP reported on Sunday.

"This is it, the regime has fallen," they chanted.

Saleh arrived in Saudi Arabia late Saturday along with several other top Yemeni officials, including the speakers of both houses of parliament and the deputy prime minister, to be treated for wounds they suffered in a rocket attack on the presidential palace on Friday.

The Yemeni president is reportedly suffering serious shrapnel wounds and burns on his chest and neck.

Many analysts say it is unlikely that Saleh will return, which means his son Ahmed will try to seize power following his father's three-decade-long rule.

Yemeni Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has reportedly taken over as acting president and supreme commander of the armed forces.

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama's top aide for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan contacted the Yemeni vice-president on Saturday, following his Thursday meeting with Saudi and the UAE leaders.

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor declined to comment further on the contact between Brennan and the Yemeni government.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for near daily demonstrations in Yemen's major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment and demanding the ouster of Saleh, who has been in office since 1978.

Saleh arrives in Saudi Arabia for treatment

Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183247.html

Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has left for Saudi Arabia for medical treatment after he sustained injuries in a mortar attack on his presidential compound.

The Saudi royal court said on Sunday that Saleh arrived in Saudi Arabia along with other top Yemeni officials to be treated for wounds they suffered in Friday's rocket attack on the presidential palace, Reuters reported.

Saleh sustained neck and chest injuries in the attack in the capital, Sana'a. However, shortly after the attack, Yemen's state media said Saleh suffered minor injuries and aired an audio message from him saying he was in good condition.

Several Yemeni high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar and Parliament Speaker Yahya al-Raiee, were wounded in the shelling, which also left at least seven presidential guards dead.

According to a medical source, the speakers of both houses of parliament, the deputy prime minister and other officials have also been evacuated from Sana'a to neighboring Saudi Arabia.

Yemeni Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has reportedly taken over as acting president and supreme commander of the armed forces.

However, Saleh's Son, Ahmed, is believed to be in the capital to grab power in the event his father does not manage to return to Yemen.

In the wake of the rocket attack on the presidential palace, Saudi King Abdullah intervened and brokered a ceasefire between the Yemeni government and dissident tribesmen.

However, more clashes erupted between Yemeni government troops and opposition tribesmen in Sana'a on Saturday.

The residence of tribal leader Sadeq al-Ahmar in the capital was shelled, apparently in retaliation for Friday's attack on the presidential palace.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for regular demonstrations in Yemen's major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment and demanding the ouster of President Saleh, who has been in office since 1978.

More clashes break out in Sana'a

Yemeni protestors block a road during clashes with security forces in the southern city of Taizz on June 4, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183230.html

More clashes between Yemeni government troops and opposition tribesmen have broken out in Sana'a, one day after an attack on President Ali Abdullah Saleh's palace.

Government troops also shelled the residence of tribal leader Sadiq al-Ahmar in the capital on Saturday, apparently in retaliation for Friday's attack on the presidential palace.

In the incident, the embattled president and six other Yemeni officials, including Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar and Parliament Speaker Yahya al-Raiee, were injured, and at least seven presidential guards were killed.

The government said the al-Ahmar family was behind the attack.

Some of the high-ranking officials who were injured were flown to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment.

A Yemeni official told Reuters on Saturday that Saleh had suffered minor injuries to his head and face but was still inside the country. Other reports said he suffered serious burns and shrapnel wounds in the chest and neck.

Saudi officials say he is receiving treatment in the kingdom.

"I am well, in good health," Saleh said in an audio statement broadcast on state television late on Friday.

Reports from Sana'a on Saturday indicated that fighting had also spread to the southern part of the capital for the first time and that thousands of opposition tribesmen were making their way to Sana'a to join the battle against Saleh loyalists.

Meanwhile, Yemeni police and military units have withdrawn from the southern city of Taizz as regime thugs are reportedly looting shops and public buildings in the city.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for regular demonstrations in Yemen's major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment and demanding the ouster of President Saleh, who has been in office since 1978.

Blast rattles Yemen's security HQ in Taizz

A wounded civilian is being transported on a stretcher at a makeshift clinic outside Sana'a University on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183214.html

A powerful blast rocks National Security headquarters in Yemen's southern city of Taizz as embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh recovers from the wounds he sustained a day earlier.

The explosion came on Saturday, one day after an attack on the Yemeni presidential palace left Saleh and six other officials wounded in the capital, Sana'a.

According to the Saudi Arabia's state television, Saleh is currently in the kingdom for medical treatment. However, some Yemeni sources say that the president is still in Sana'a.

“Saleh is still in Sana'a," a Yemeni official told Reuters on Saturday, adding that, “He had suffered minor wounds to his head and I believe his face."

"I am well, in good health," Saleh said in an audio statement broadcast on state television late Friday.

Saleh blamed "the sons of al-Ahmar," for the attacks and urged "the security forces to purge state institutions of these gangs."

He was referring to Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar -- the leader of the powerful Hashid tribal federation -- who has been fighting a deadly battle with the regime in Sana'a over the past two weeks.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for the almost daily demonstrations in Yemen's major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment as well as demanding the ouster of Saleh, who has been ruling the Middle Eastern country since 1978.

Saudi Arabia hosts injured Yemeni officials

Clashes between tribesmen loyal to Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, the head of the powerful Hashid tribe, and Yemeni security forces left buildings ablaze in Sana'a on May 3, 2011 (file photo).

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183133.html

Several top Yemeni officials injured in an attack on the presidential palace on Friday have been flown to neighboring Saudi Arabia for treatment.

A medical source told Reuters on Saturday that the speakers of both houses of parliament, the deputy prime minister and other officials have been evacuated from the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, to neighboring Saudi Arabia.

No other details on the conditions of the officials were provided.

On Friday, the presidential palace in Sana'a was hit by at least two shells.

Several Yemeni high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar and Parliament Speaker Yahya al-Raiee, were wounded in the shelling.

The shelling also left at least seven presidential guards dead.

Yemen's official media said President Ali Abdullah Saleh also suffered minor injuries in the Friday attack.

Hours later, however, the country's state television aired an audio message from President Saleh saying that he was in good condition.

In his audio message, Saleh blamed the attack on the powerful Hashid tribal federation, led by Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, who has been fighting a deadly battle with the regime in Sana'a over the past two weeks.

The tribe's members deny they were behind the attack, leaving some to speculate whether it may have been the work of former government troops who've defected to the opposition.

"It is said that this attack is a very accurate attack and has to be army trained personnel," said Jamila Ali Raja, a former advisor to Yemen's Foreign Ministry.

The recent development comes as thousands of opposition tribesmen make their way to the Yemeni capital to join the fight against regime forces.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for the almost daily demonstrations in Yemen's major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment as well as demanding the ouster of Saleh, who has been ruling the Middle Eastern country since 1978.

Yemen president injured in attack

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183029.html

Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been injured during a heavy missile attack on the presidential palace in the capital, Sana'a.

Witnesses say the presidential palace was hit by at least two shells on Friday and that heavy clashes are taking place inside the compound.

Yemeni security officials have confirmed the report, saying several high-ranking officials were also wounded after several shells fired by dissident tribesmen hit a mosque in the presidential compound.

A leader of the ruling General People's Congress (GPC) party told AFP that Saleh was "lightly wounded in the back of his head."

"The president, may God protect him, is well and in good health and the news spread by Suhail channel is groundless," state television said shortly after the attack, referring to a opposition-controlled channel.

Suhail channel has claimed that Saleh was killed while trying to get out of the palace.

A source close to the presidency said deputy prime minister General Rashad al-Alimi and Parliament Speaker Yahya al-Raiee were critically wounded in the attack.

According to government sources, Yemeni Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar, Saleh's private secretary Abdo Burji, Abdulaziz Abdulghani, head of Yemen's consultative council, GPC MP Yasser al-Awadi and Sana'a Governor Noman Duweik were also injured in the attack.

Four presidential guards were also killed in the attack.

The attack on the presidential palace came shortly after forces loyal to Saleh shelled the home of Sheikh Hamid al-Ahmar, a brother of the head of powerful Hashid tribal federation whose members have been fighting a deadly battle with the regime in Sana'a over the past two weeks.

Nearly 200 people have been killed during the heavy streets clashes in Sana'a over the past ten days.

Heavy battles break out in Yemeni cities

Yemeni revolutionaries clash with Yemeni security forces in the southern city of Taizz, May 31, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/182815.html

Heavy clashes have broken out between Yemeni revolutionaries and forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh across the country, including in the capital Sana'a.

Battles between the two sides began near Freedom Square and the regional presidential palace in the southern city of Taizz shortly after midnight early on Thursday morning.

Huge explosions rocked Sana'a while intense fighting was underway near the residence of opposition tribal leader Sadiq al-Ahmar in the capital's northeastern district of al-Hasaba.

Yemen has been the scene of bloody battles between regime troops and opposition tribesmen for days.

On Wednesday, at least 41 people were killed as clashes spread to new quarters of Sana'a, the Associated Press reported.

The deadly clashes come months after Yemenis started to stage mass street rallies calling for an end to Saleh's three decades of rule.

Opposition leaders have accused Saleh of attempting to ignite a civil war in Yemen in a last-ditch effort to hang on to power.

Sana'a clashes claim 41 lives

Yemeni doctors treat an injured anti-government protestor who was wounded in clashes with security forces in Taizz, Yemen, on Tuesday, May 31, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/182693.html

At least 41 people have been killed in the overnight fighting between opposition tribesmen and security forces in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a.

A medical source told the Associated Press on Wednesday that most of the dead were opposition tribesmen.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, loud explosions were reportedly heard in the north of the capital. The cause of the blasts is still unknown.

Heavy fighting erupted between tribesmen loyal to Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, who heads the powerful Hashid tribe, and security forces in Sana'a late on Tuesday and continued overnight.

The street battles shattered a fragile ceasefire between the two sides, which had come into effect on Sunday.

Ahmar blames forces loyal to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh for breaking the truce by opening fire on the tribal leader's compound in the north of the capital. Saleh rejects the accusation.

The powerful tribal leader had earlier warned that "if the Saleh regime wants a peaceful revolution, we are ready for that. If he chooses war, we will fight him."

Clashes first broke out between security forces and members of the Hashid tribe in the capital on May 23, after Saleh refused to sign a power transition deal brokered by the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council.

Since then scores of tribesmen and regime forces have been killed.

The fighting has stoked local and international fears that the Arab world's poorest country could be thrown into civil war.

In addition, hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters have turned out for rallies in Yemen's major cities almost every day since late January.

The mainly peaceful protesters are calling for an end to corruption and unemployment, and demanding the ouster of Saleh, who has been in office since 1978.

UN slams violence on Yemeni protests

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/182660.html

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concerns over the deadly crackdown on Civilians in Yemen, despite his refusal to take any actions on the matter.

In a statement issued by his office, the secretary-general expressed his "grave concern" over brutal repression of protesters in Yemen by security forces, Xinhua reported on Tuesday.

Ban Ki-moon urged Yemeni regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh and anti-government protesters to ease tensions and "return to an immediate ceasefire, allowing negotiations to take place."

Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has called on the Yemeni government to uphold the fundamental human rights of its citizens.

"Such reprehensible acts of violence and indiscriminate attacks on unarmed civilians by armed security officers must stop immediately," Pillay said.

The development comes as the US and the EU have also rhetorically condemned the violence against protesters.

Scores of tribesmen and regime forces have lost their lives in clashes between security forces and tribesmen since Yemeni ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign a power transition deal brokered by the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council on May 23.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for near daily demonstrations in Yemen's major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment and demanding the ouster of Saleh, who has been in office since 1978.

Rivals in Yemen agree on ceasefire

Head of Yemen's powerful Hashid tribe Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar (C) walks with his bodyguards near his house in Sana'a, May 26, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181998.html

Yemeni security forces and members of the powerful Hashid tribe have agreed to a ceasefire after days of fierce clashes in the capital killed more than 100 people.

The ceasefire was declared on Friday, the fifth day of heavy streets battles in Sana'a between forces loyal to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and tribesmen demanding his immediate ouster.

"We are now in mediation and there has been a ceasefire between the two sides ... But if Ali Abdullah Saleh returned (to fighting) then we are ready," Reuters quoted Sadeq al-Ahmar, head of the Hashid tribal federation, as saying.

Sana'a residents say shots and explosions are still heard but the fighting is not as intense as it was in previous days.

The agreement came shortly after tribesmen seized a Republican Guards checkpoint outside the capital.

Tribal sources say at least 15 tribesmen and tens of troops, including the base commander, were killed in the fighting which saw Yemeni air force planes attacking tribesmen.

Tribal leader Sheik Ali Safi said his forces stormed the camp to prevent government forces from sending reinforcement to the capital, where forces loyal to the Yemeni president and tribesmen opposing his rule were fighting a fierce battle since Monday.

More than 100 people have been killed and many others were wounded during five days of heavy clashes in Sana'a.

The battle also forced hundreds of Yemenis to flee their homes in the capital, seeking refuge elsewhere.

Meanwhile, thousands of anti-government protesters poured into the streets in major Yemeni cities on the "Friday of Peaceful Revolution," demanding Saleh's departure.

The isolated Yemeni president, who has been in power for almost 33 years, has repeatedly refused to sign a power transition deal that would see him resign in return for immunity from prosecution.

Yemen clashes death toll approaches 70

Anti-regime protesters shout slogans demanding the ouster of President Saleh during a demonstrationin Sana'a on May 25, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181760.html

Nearly 70 people have been killed over the past three days as clashes between Yemeni security forces and tribesmen intensify in Sana'a.

Both sides raised the specter of a civil war as the death toll rose over the course of three days of battles in the capital, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Wednesday that he is prepared to escalate the campaign against anti-regime tribesmen, who are calling for his immediate ouster.

He said he would work to prevent the recent violence from “dragging the country into a civil war,” while the opposition are demonstrating against any attempt by the regime to pull the country into a civil war.

In a statement read out by Saleh's spokesman, Ahmed al-Soufi, the president said, “I will not leave power and I will not leave Yemen. I don't take orders from outside.”

He also criticized the US-backed efforts to negotiate his exit after almost 33 years of authoritarian rule.

Reports say that tribal fighters have occupied 16 ministries and other government institutions, while Saleh's forces are using the Interior Ministry as their front-line base.

Some military units also defected to the opposition on Wednesday. One breakaway unit trucked in stones to block streets in order to prevent government troops from moving in heavy weapons.

An aviation official said that clashes near Sana'a airport have diverted flights.

The violence escalated on Monday after Saleh refused to sign a power transition deal brokered by the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate end to the fighting and expressed concern that the clashes “might further destabilize the situation,” his spokesman Martin Nesirky said at UN headquarters in New York.

All entrances to Yemeni capital blocked

Yemeni families flee their homes in Sana'a where heavy clashes are taking place between Yemeni security forces and tribesmen loyal to Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, May 25, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181737.html

Forces loyal to the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh have blocked all the entrances to the capital to prevent tribesmen from joining heavy clashes there.

The entrance ban was imposed on Wednesday as armed clashes between Yemeni security forces and the members of the country's most powerful Hashid tribe entered the third day.

The tribesmen have reportedly taken control of several government buildings in the capital, including the national airline building and the headquarters of the state, according to news agency Saba.

Witnesses say hundreds of people are fleeing the capital, seeking safety elsewhere.

"It's no longer possible to stay in Sana'a. The confrontations will reach all parts of the city. I am afraid for my life. I will go to my village in Ibb. The situation there is safe", said Murad Abdullah as he left by car.

Clashes between President Saleh's troops and tribesmen loyal to Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, head of Hashid tribe broke out in the Hassaba district of Sana'a on Monday after Yemeni security forces moved against the tribal leader's compound.

A tribal official speaking on the condition of anonymity said hundreds of Hashid fighters were moving in from outside Sana'a to al-Ahmar's house to protect it. Al-Ahmar joined the opposition in March.

Meanwhile, the isolated Yemeni president, who has been in power for almost 33 years, has once again rejected calls to step down. He also said that he is prepared to escalate the fight against the opposition tribes.

Since late January, hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters have been staging anti-Saleh protest rallies across the country on a daily basis. The Yemeni protesters are calling for the immediate ouster of Saleh.

Tribesmen take Yemen news agency

Armed tribesmen guard opposition leader Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar's home in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, May 24, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181624.html

Anti-government protests in Yemen have reached a turning point, as armed tribesmen take control of the country's state news agency, Saba.

Tribesmen loyal to Yemeni opposition tribal chief Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar took over the news agency's building on Wednesday, as fighting in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a resumed, AFP reported.

According to witnesses, the tribesmen have also taken hold of the national airline, Yemenia.

They are reportedly making efforts to take control of the interior ministry headquarters.

Clashes between President Ali Abdullah Saleh's troops and tribesmen loyal to al-Ahmar broke out in Sana'a on Monday.

On Tuesday, Saleh's forces fired rockets into al-Ahmar's house in an effort to quell the intense fight.

At least 49 fighters loyal to the powerful chieftain and 15 government troops were killed in the attack, Xinhua reported.

Since late January, hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters have been staging anti-Saleh protest rallies across the country on a daily basis.

On Sunday, the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC) suspended its effort to mediate in Yemen's political turmoil after President Saleh again refused to sign a deal to step down.

Under the deal offered by the [P]GCC, Saleh would hand power over to his vice president and resign within 30 days in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

Ahmar, who is the leader of the Hashid tribal federation and a former supporter of President Saleh, joined the opposition in March. Saleh himself comes from the Hashid tribe.

Ahmar accused Saleh of trying to spark a "civil war" in an attempt to remain in power.

Yemeni tribesmen, security forces clash

Anti-government protesters in Yemen demand the immediate departure of President Saleh

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181378.html

Armed clashes between the Yemeni security forces and members of the country's powerful Hashid tribe in the capital have left at least two tribesmen dead.

The heavy fighting broke out in the Hassaba district of Sana'a, near the residence of the Hashid tribe leader, Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, on Monday a day after Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign a power transition deal.

Witnesses say machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades were used during the fighting. There were also reports of huge explosions in the northern neighborhood, where a number of ministries are located.

A Yemeni official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Ahmar loyalists had taken over the trade and industry ministry as well as a religious school and that a Yemeni Airlines office building was set on fire and smoke belched out of a building inside the Interior Ministry compound.

The headquarters of the state news agency, Saba, was also attacked.

According to medical sources, at least 25 people were injured in the trade of fire.

It was not immediately clear what caused the clashes, but some reports suggest that the fighting broke out after security forces tried to set up roadblocks between al-Ahmar's residential compound and the nearby Interior Ministry.

Abdel-Qawi al-Qabasi, an aide to al-Ahmar, however, said security forces were trying to storm al-Ahmar's house and that tribal fighters counterattacked.

Al-Ahmar, who is the leader of the Hashid tribal federation and a former supporter of President Saleh, joined the opposition in March. Saleh himself comes from the Hashid tribe.

Hundreds of Hashid fighters were moving in from outside Sana'a to al-Ahmar's house to protect it, a tribal official speaking on condition of anonymity said.