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Yemen Government: Wounded President Remains in Country

   VOA News  June 04, 2011
   Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh waves to his supporters, not
   pictured, during a rally in Sana'a, April 15, 2011

Photo: AP

   Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh waves to his supporters, not
   pictured, during a rally in Sana'a, April 15, 2011

   The Yemeni government is denying reports that President Ali Abdullah
   Saleh is among a group of high-level officials who have gone to Saudi
   Arabia for treatment for wounds suffered in a rocket attack on the
   presidential compound Friday.
   A government official said Saturday that Saleh is undergoing treatment
   at a military hospital in the capital, Sana'a. However, state-run media
   reports say the country's prime minister and at least four other
   high-ranking officials have sought treatment in the neighboring
   country.
   Meanwhile, clashes continued on Saturday in Sana'a, where forces loyal
   to the president have been shelling homes of anti-government leaders.
   The home base of dissident tribesman Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar is among
   those targeted. He is a leader of what Saleh has called "a gang of
   outlaws" who carried out Friday's attack on the presidential compound.
   Tribal officials said Saturday that 10 people had been killed and 35
   wounded in the government's overnight shelling in al-Ahmar's
   neighborhood.
   Separately, government and opposition leaders say security forces have
   withdrawn from the southern city of Taiz, a flashpoint of
   anti-government protests. The Reuters news agency quotes an opposition
   leader as saying looting and other unrest have been spreading in the
   city since the forces pulled out.
   The ongoing conflict between forces loyal to Saleh and anti-government
   rebels has led to to fears the country may be on the brink of civil
   war. Saleh has three times over the past several weeks defied the Gulf
   accord that would end his 33-year reign.
   Nearly 400 people have been killed since the popular uprising against
   Saleh began in January.

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

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