Chaos spread in Yemen despite truce

Fri May 27, 2011

Despite a truce between Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the powerful Hashid tribe, fighter jets continue to strike tribesmen in the country's rural areas.

At least 18 loyalists of the Hashid tribe were killed in the aerial bombing of the al-Fardha Nehem region, 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of the capital Sana'a on Friday, a Press TV report said.

The air strikes came after tribesmen surrounded and captured two military camps belonging to the Republican Guards, led by the president's son, in order to stop troop deployment to Sana'a.

More than a dozen soldiers -- including a base commander -- were killed in the fighting, AP reported local tribal leader Sheik Ali Saif saying.

The tribesmen also seized two military helicopters and shot down a third, capturing all soldiers on board, Saif added.

Yemen's Interior Ministry, however, denied the base's capture in a statement.

The latest deaths bring to over 124 the number of tribesmen killed during the past five days.

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

This is while, tens of thousands of Yemeni anti-government protesters once again massed in the capital's central square on Friday, seeking to confirm the peacefulness of their revolution.

Addressing the crowd, Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar, head of the Hashid tribe, renewed calls on President Saleh to step down and blamed the embattled president for the recent violence.

“We want to remain peaceful, but if Ali Abdullah Saleh wants war, we are ready to face him and those around him,'' the 55-year-old leader said.

Ahmar made the warning after declaring that he had reached a ceasefire with forces loyal to Saleh, following five days of intense street battle.

International pressure on President Saleh continues to mount up, urging him to sign the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC) brokered deal.

The isolated Yemeni president, who has been in power for almost 33 years, has repeatedly refused to sign the [P]GCC initiative that would see him resign in return for immunity from prosecution.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/182050.html.