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Yemen Parliament Approves State of Emergency

   VOA News  March 23, 2011

   Yemen's parliament has approved a law imposing a state of emergency in
   the country amid protest-related violence.

   The  adoption  of  the emergency law Wednesday was expected, as Yemeni
   President  Ali  Abdullah  Saleh's ruling party holds a majority of the
   parliamentary seats.

   Saleh  announced  a  state  of  emergency  after  gunmen  loyal to the
   president  opened fire on a group of protesters calling for his ouster
   Friday, killing 52 people.

   A  wave of government officials, tribal leaders and diplomats defected
   to  the  side  of  opposition  protesters  after the bloody crackdown.
   Yemen's  top  military  figure,  Major  General  Mohsen al-Ahmar, also
   defected to âsupport the peaceful revolution.â

   The president on Tuesday warned military leaders that any attempt at a
   coup  will  lead  to  civil  war. He also said any division within the
   military would have a negative impact on the entire nation.

   A  spokesman  for Saleh said Tuesday the president was willing to hold
   early  elections  this year and leave office by January in the face of
   intensifying  opposition  protests against his 32-year-rule. Mr. Saleh
   had previously said he would hang on until his term ended in 2013.

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

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