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Protests Continue in Yemen Amid Regional Efforts to Mediate

   VOA News  April 10, 2011
   Yemeni army soldiers block the way as anti-government protestors attend
   a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali
   Abdullah Saleh, in Taiz, Yemen, April 10, 2011

Photo: AP

   Yemeni army soldiers block the way as anti-government protestors attend
   a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali
   Abdullah Saleh, in Taiz, Yemen, April 10, 2011

   Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters rallied in Yemen's
   capital, Sana'a, Sunday, while foreign ministers of the Gulf
   Cooperation Council arrived in Saudi Arabia to review mediation
   efforts.
   President Ali Abdullah Saleh had initially accepted an offer by the GCC
   for talks between representatives of Yemen's government and opposition
   groups. But the Yemeni president rejected the offer on Friday after
   Qatar's prime minister said the six-nation GCC hoped to reach a deal
   with him that called for him to step down.
   Representatives from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and
   Bahrain are evaluating the initial responses from Saleh and the
   opposition despite tensions between Yemen and Qatar. On Saturday, Yemen
   summoned its ambassador to Qatar for consultations.

   Clashes between Yemeni security forces and opposition activists turned
   bloody in Taiz on Saturday. Medics say at least 13 people were wounded
   when security forces opened fire and used tear gas on protesters.
   Protesters blocked traffic and set cars on fire in cities including
   Aden and the capital, Sana'a.
   On Friday, witnesses in Taiz said at least four people were killed and
   dozens were wounded in unrest on Friday.
   Some demonstrators were apparently angered by President Ali Abdullah
   Saleh's rejection of the GCC proposal.
   For the past two months, anti-government protesters have been calling
   for an end to his 32-year rule. President Saleh has offered to resign,
   but only after new elections are held.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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References

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