Friday, February 18, 2011

Yemen: At least 4 injured in the repression of a new event

SANAA - Supporters of the regime in Yemen were violently attacked an opposition demonstration on Friday in Sanaa, while the violence continued in Aden (south) after the death of three protesters.
At least four protesters were injured when supporters of the ruling General People's Congress (GPC) attacked them with truncheons, axes and sticks, according to an AFP correspondent and witnesses.
Thousands of young people, mostly students, had gathered after Friday prayers in the main artery of the capital, al-Zubair street, repeating a single slogan: "The people want the fall of the regime."
Supporters of the CPG but also agents of security services in civilian demonstrators were violently attacked and beat several journalists. Some of the attackers were armed with pistols and fired into the air to disperse the demonstration, witnesses said.
Over the last five days, daily clashes occurred between demonstrators, mainly students, and supporters of the regime.
Protesters demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdallah Saleh, in power for 32 years in the impoverished and volatile south of the Arabian Peninsula, a key ally of Washington in its fight against Al Qaeda.
Mr. Saleh has promised February 2 to conduct reforms and not to stand at the end of his current term in 2013, without calming the street continues to call for his departure.
The parliamentary opposition, which has agreed to resume dialogue with the regime remained isolated and has no organized protest since February 3.
In Aden, the main town in the south, at least four people were injured Friday in renewed clashes between protesters demanding the downfall of the regime and the police, according to the AFP correspondent.
Thousands of people marched in several neighborhoods of the city after weekly prayers, chanting "GIC criminal", after the death of three people in the city during the dispersal of demonstrators by security forces who live ammunition.
"The people want the fall of the regime," the demonstrators repeated again, resuming the main slogan of the revolt that led to the downfall of President Hosni Mubarak. They held a banner proclaiming "No fear from today."
The clashes between the demonstrators by security forces in the neighborhood of Khor Maksar and Dar Saad, according to the AFP correspondent.
During the night, hundreds of protesters, chanting "Ali, releases", had broken shop windows, set fire to tires and placed the barrels in the streets to block traffic.
Thursday's deaths bring to five the number of dead in Aden since Wednesday.
A Moukalla in south-east, three demonstrators were injured by bullets when riot police dispersed a demonstration that also calls for the regime fell, witnesses said.
Yemen is plagued by chronic unemployment and endemic poverty. The authorities have multiplied in recent weeks, the social and economic measures, including an increase in wages.
Power is also facing a separatist movement in the south, independent state until 1990, and the threat of Al-Qaeda active in the country.

No comments:

Post a Comment