Clashes continue in Yemen
May 25, 2011 -- Updated 0904 GMT (1704 HKT)
(CNN) -- Clashed erupted in a neighborhood in Sanaa Wednesday morning between tribesman and government officials, as unrest continued in Yemen, witnesses said.
The fighting occurred in the Hasabah neighborhood. Yemen state television reported that people were shelling government buildings.
The clashes marked the latest round of conflict in Yemen, a key U.S. ally in the fight against al Qaeda. The country has been roiled by protests for most of the year amid anti-government demonstrations that have swept across much of the Arab world. Protesters want Saleh to step aside after three decades of rule.
Saleh says Yemen will not become a failed state
May 25 (Reuters) - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said he hoped Yemen would not become a failed state or a safehaven for al Qaeda, adding that the Yemeni people wanted a peaceful transition of power.
"Yemen, I hope, will not be a failed state or another Somalia. The people are still keen for a peaceful transition of power," he told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.
"Violence will be eliminated and the economy will be rebuilt," he added. (Reporting by Samia Nakhoul; Writing by Cynthia Johnston)
Clashes continue in Yemen
May 25, 2011 -- Updated 0904 GMT (1704 HKT)
(CNN) -- Clashed erupted in a neighborhood in Sanaa Wednesday morning between tribesman and government officials, as unrest continued in Yemen, witnesses said.
The fighting occurred in the Hasabah neighborhood. Yemen state television reported that people were shelling government buildings.
The clashes marked the latest round of conflict in Yemen, a key U.S. ally in the fight against al Qaeda. The country has been roiled by protests for most of the year amid anti-government demonstrations that have swept across much of the Arab world. Protesters want Saleh to step aside after three decades of rule.
May 25 (Reuters) - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said he hoped Yemen would not become a failed state or a safehaven for al Qaeda, adding that the Yemeni people wanted a peaceful transition of power.
"Yemen, I hope, will not be a failed state or another Somalia. The people are still keen for a peaceful transition of power," he told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.
"Violence will be eliminated and the economy will be rebuilt," he added. (Reporting by Samia Nakhoul; Writing by Cynthia Johnston)
Yemen president says won't be dragged into civil war
May 25 (Reuters) - Yemen's entrenched President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Wednesday he would not be dragged into civil war despite clashes with the leader of a powerful tribal confederation who has sided with protesters seeking his ouster.
"What happened was a provocative act to drag us into civil war, but it is limited to the Ahmar sons. They bear responsibility for shedding the blood of innocent civilians. Until this second, they are attacking the interior ministry. But we don't want to widen the confrontation," Saleh told selected media. (Reporting by Samia Nakhoul; Writing by Cynthia Johnston)
UK's Hague urges Yemen president to sign transition deal
May 25 (Reuters) - Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Wednesday Yemen's president should sign a transition of power deal "as soon as possible".
President Ali Abdullah Saleh said he was ready to sign such a deal on Wednesday within the framework of dialogue, but would fight those who threaten security and stability in the country which has seen protests calling for him to stand down.
He also said he does not take orders from any foreign powers.
"He should sign the agreement, he has been on the brink of doing so for some time," Hague told Sky News.
"We have urged him to do so, and it's not really a question of taking orders from foreign powers, it is in the interest of his own country and his own interest now for there to a be a transition of power in the deal that has been mediated.
"So I very much hope the president will sign that agreement and do so as soon as possible." (Writing by Avril Ormsby; Editing by Keith Weir)
Yemen machinegun clashes resume in capital Sanaa
May 25 (Reuters) - Yemeni loyalist forces sparred in machinegun battles with guards loyal to a wealthy tribal leader who has sided with protesters seeking the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, witnesses said. "Clashes resumed anew and the sound of sporadic gunfire could be heard in the area," one witness said. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari; Writing by Cynthia Johnston; Editing by Erika Solomon)
اليمن: 41 قتيلاً بمواجهات وصالح يدعو لوقف العنف
صنعاء، اليمن (CNN) -- دعا الرئيس اليمني، علي عبدالله صالح الموالين إلى الزعيم القبلي، الشيخ عبدالله بن حسين الأحمر، إلى وقف أعمال عنف اندلعت، الثلاثاء، بعيد استهداف القوات اليمنية لمنزل الزعيم القبلي بقذائف المدفعية الثقيلة، في مواجهات سقط فيها 41 قتيلاً، الثلاثاء.
ودعا صالح أولاد الشيخ الأحمر إلى وقف اعتداءاتهم على أفراد الأمن والانسحاب من المباني والمنشآت العامة التي قاموا بمهاجمتها والسيطرة عليها.
وحمل الأحمر، في بيان صادر عنه، الرئيس اليمني بتفجير الوضع في منطقة الحصبة بعد أن قام ومنذ عدة أسابيع باستحداثات عسكرية وحشد مجاميع مسلحة في عدة أماكن قريبة من منزل الشيخ عبد الله بن حسين.
وقال مسؤول بارز في مكتب الأحمر إن صالح يترجم تهديداته بأن اليمن يوشك الدخول في حرب أهلية إلى أفعال، مؤكداً أن "قبائل اليمن ستنضم إلى مناهضي صالح."
ووفقاً لمصدر من وزارة الداخلية اليمنية والناطق باسم الحكومة فأن 14 جندياً وعشرة مدنيين قتلوا في عنف الثلاثاء.
وكانت الاشتباكات قد تجددت، الثلاثاء قرب منزل شيخ شيوخ قبيلة "حاشد"، الشيخ صادق الأحمر، حيث استهدفت القوات الموالية للرئيس اليمني منزل الزعيم القبلي بقذائف المدفعية الثقيلة، كما شوهدت مروحيات تابعة للجيش اليمني تحلق في الأجواء فوق منزل الشيخ الأحمر.
تأتي هذه الاشتباكات بعد يوم من مواجهات عنيفة بين المسلحين القبليين والقوات الحكومية الاثنين، أسفرت عن سقوط العديد القتلى والجرحى، كما سيطر المسلحون على عدد من المباني الحكومية في صنعاء، من بينها وزارة التجارة والصناعة، كما هاجموا مقر وزارة الداخلية.
إلى ذلك، أفادت وكالة الأنباء اليمنية الرسمية "سبأ" بتدمير ثلاثة طوابق من مبنى الوكالة، كما دُمرت شبكتها التقنية، جراء إطلاق نار كثيف على المبنى، بمختلف أنواع الأسلحة من قبل عناصر مسلحة تابعة لأولاد الشيخ عبد الله بن حسين الأحمر.
وذكرت "سبأ" أن المهاجمين استخدموا الأسلحة الرشاشة، وقذائف "أر بي جي"، وصورايخ "لاو"، مشيرة إلى أن إطلاق النار على مبنى الوكالة استمر من الثانية بعد الظهر، حتى السابعة من مساء الاثنين، وقالت إن اثنين من صحفييها أُصيبا نتيجة القصف.
إلى ذلك، حمّلت وزارة الداخلية "أولاد الأحمر" مسؤولية المواجهات المسلحة التي تشهدها العاصمة اليمنية لليوم الثاني على التوالي، مشيرةً إلى قيام من وصفتهم بـ"عصابة مسلحة"، بمهاجمة إحدى الدوريات التابعة للشرطة، مما أدى إلى "استشهاد" أحد الجنود، وإصابة خمسة آخرين.
وقال مسؤول أمني إن المسلحين قاموا بعد ذلك، بمهاجمة كل من مدرسة "الرماح"، وقسم الشرطة بـ"الحصبة"، ومعهد الإرشاد والتوجيه، ومبنى وزارة الصناعة والتجارة، ومبنى الخطوط الجوية اليمنية، حيث أطلقوا عدداً من القذائف باتجاه الدور الخاص بمكاتب طيران "السعيدة"، ما أدى إلى احتراق تلك المكاتب.
وعلى صعيد الاحتجاجات في ساحة التغيير بوسط صنعاء، قال شهود عيان لـCNN إن الجنود المنشقين عن الجيش يعملون على حراسة المحتجين المعتصمين في الساحة منذ أكثر من شهرين للمطالبة بتنحي صالح بعد ثلاثة عقود في السلطة.
وكان المجلس الوزاري لدول مجلس التعاون الخليجي قد أعلن مساء الاثنين تعليق مبادرتهم لحل الأزمة اليمنية وتتضمن نقل سلمي للسلطة.
Yemen unrest: Dozens die in Sanaa violence
BBC: 25 May 2011 Last updated at 06:16 GMT
At least thirty-eight people have been killed in renewed fighting between Yemen's security forces and armed members of the country's biggest tribe.
The violence flared after President Abdullah Saleh's refusal to sign a Gulf-brokered transition deal on Sunday.
Wendy Urquhart reports.
Yemen: 38 killed as tribe battles government forces
BBC: 24 May 2011 Last updated at 21:20 GMT
Witnesses reported machine-gun and heavy weapons fire in a northern district of the capital, Sanaa.
Some of the clashes were around the home of tribal leader Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, who has joined protests against President Abdullah Saleh's rule.
The two sides also fought outside several key government ministries.
Sheikh Ahmar, head of the powerful Hashid tribe, is a former supporter of the president. He joined the anti-government protests against Mr Saleh in March.
"The clashes were violent. The sound of machine gun and mortar fire could be heard everywhere, " one witness told Reuters news agency.
Medical sources said 24 tribesmen were killed while government officials said 14 security personnel were killed in Tuesday's fighting.
The clashes flared after two tribal fighters were reported killed and 25 other fighters wounded on Monday.
The violence follows Mr Saleh's refusal to sign a Gulf-brokered transition deal on Sunday.
He said he would only sign in the presence of opposition leaders.
The deal called for Mr Saleh to step down within a month after 33 years in office and hand over power to a unity government. It would also have given the president immunity from prosecution.
Mr Saleh has been criticised by Western powers, in particular the US and France, for failing to agree to a transfer of power.
Meanwhile, many protesters - inspired by the successful revolts in Tunisia and Egypt - say the Gulf accord does not go far enough, and are calling for Mr Saleh's immediate departure.
In March, Sheikh Ahmar said he was "joining the revolution" and called on Mr Saleh, himself a member of the Hashid tribe, "to exempt Yemen from the bloodshed and make a quiet exit".
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