Yemenis welcome defected troops

Mon Aug 15, 2011

New footage shows a group of Yemeni troops receiving a warm welcome from anti-government demonstrators after their defection from the military.

Overnight gatherings were held late on Sunday in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, and the southern city of Taizz to celebrate the defections.

The defectors made a statement of intent promising stay with the popular revolution against the regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh.

On Sunday, protesters in Taizz rallied in support of a transitional council. The demonstrators also chanted slogans against Saudi Arabia.

The Yemeni anti-government youth groups have set up a transitional council to manage the country's affairs and to make efforts to force Saleh to give up power before his possible return from Saudi Arabia.

Saleh and five other high-ranking officials were evacuated to Saudi Arabia for alleged medical treatment following a rocket attack on the Yemeni presidential palace in Sana'a on June 3.

Protesters in Yemen have vowed to continue their rallies through the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan until their demands are met.

Hundreds of people have been killed and many more injured in the Middle Eastern country since the popular uprising began in late January as a result of the brutal crackdown on anti-government protests by military forces and bands of thugs loyal to Saleh.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/194010.html.