Friday, June 3, 2011

Opposition attack injures Yemen's president

Opposition attack injures Yemen's president
Opposition attack injures Yemen's president. The president of Yemen been hurt in an attack on a mosque in his compound in the capital Sanaa, officials say, as fighting continues between the government and armed tribes.

Ali Abdullah Saleh was in hospital "in good health" and would "soon" speak publicly, officials said.

The PM and speaker of parliament were hurt and three guards killed.

Earlier troops shelled the home of the brother of the tribal leader whose supporters they are fighting.

Thousands meanwhile attended a funeral for 50 people killed in the violence, and there were huge demonstrations after Friday prayers.

In the southern city of Taiz, at least three members of the security forces and two protesters were killed in clashes, officials and doctors said.

It was not clear if the security forces were soldiers or police. One report said they had been killed by a rocket-propelled grenade.

A crackdown on protesters in Taiz on Sunday left more than 50 demonstrators dead.
The US has sent an envoy to the Gulf to discuss ways of stopping the violence, which has brought Yemen to the brink of civil war.

The White House condemned the recent bloodshed, including the attack on the presidential palace.

"Violence cannot resolve the issues that confront Yemen, and today's events cannot be a justification for a new round of fighting," spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.

More than 350 people have been killed since the uprising started in January, but at least 135 of them have died in the past 10 days.

Western and regional powers have been urging Mr Saleh to sign a Gulf Co-operation Council-brokered deal that would see him hand over to his deputy in return for an amnesty from prosecution.

He has agreed to sign on several occasions, but then backed out.

GCC Secretary General Abdulattif al-Zayani called for an end to the fighting and said the council was ready to do all it could to help, Reuters news agency reported.
'Scratches'

There has been heavy fighting in the northern Sanaa district of Hassaba since last week between Mr Saleh's forces and tribesman loyal to Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, the head of the powerful Hashid tribal confederation.

Read More:BBC