Today was the bloodiest day in the deteriorating situation in Yemen as a massive protest was broken up by gunfire in the city of Sanaa. Government security forces, snipers, plain-clothes police officers, and government supporters opened fire and attacked protesters as they demonstrated, demanding that President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down. Sixteen were killed and over 200 were wounded; there are reports that 25 are in critical condition.
Saleh has been in neighboring Saudi Arabia since being wounded in a rocket attack on June 3rd. Saleh recently granted his vice-president the authority to negotiate in a peace deal being conducted by various members of the Arab world and backed by the United States, who has been an important partner with the Yemeni government in their efforts to stamp out an al Qaida affiliate in the south.
Demonstrations took place in other Yemeni cities, none facing anything like the one in Sanaa. Also on Sunday, the government forces shelled a district of Sanaa occupied by Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar, ruler of Yemen's most powerful tribal confederation, the Hashid. For many years, al-Ahmar's family were members of the ruling party, but he has since resigned and serves as one of the most prominant figures calling for Saleh's resignation. Al-Ahmar reportedly told his fighters not to return fire, not wanting Saleh to use that as an excuse to cling to power.
Saleh has been in neighboring Saudi Arabia since being wounded in a rocket attack on June 3rd. Saleh recently granted his vice-president the authority to negotiate in a peace deal being conducted by various members of the Arab world and backed by the United States, who has been an important partner with the Yemeni government in their efforts to stamp out an al Qaida affiliate in the south.
Demonstrations took place in other Yemeni cities, none facing anything like the one in Sanaa. Also on Sunday, the government forces shelled a district of Sanaa occupied by Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar, ruler of Yemen's most powerful tribal confederation, the Hashid. For many years, al-Ahmar's family were members of the ruling party, but he has since resigned and serves as one of the most prominant figures calling for Saleh's resignation. Al-Ahmar reportedly told his fighters not to return fire, not wanting Saleh to use that as an excuse to cling to power.
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