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Yemen Calls for Arrest of Opposition Tribal Leader

   VOA News  May 26, 2011
   Yemeni army soldiers man a security point near a square, the site of an
   anti-government protest to demand the ouster of Yemen's President Ali
   Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa May 25, 2011

Photo: Reuters

   Yemeni army soldiers man a security point near a square, the site of an
   anti-government protest to demand the ouster of Yemen's President Ali
   Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa May 25, 2011

   Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has ordered the arrest of an
   opposition tribal chief whose supporters have been engaged in deadly
   clashes with government forces since Monday.
   The defense ministry announced the arrest order for Sheikh Sadiq
   al-Ahmar on Thursday, as loyalists to the Hashid tribe chief continued
   fighting Yemeni forces in the capital, Sana'a.
   Western news reports quote government sources and witnesses as saying
   at least 24 people were killed in fighting late Wednesday and early
   Thursday. Scores of soldiers, tribesmen and soldiers were killed in the
   unrest earlier this week.
   Separately, the defense ministry says 28 people died following an
   explosion at a weapons storage facility the capital. However, the
   Associated Press says opposition activists dispute the account and say
   the deaths resulted from the government's heavy shelling in a
   residential area.
   Earlier Thursday, witnesses reported heavy shelling and loud explosions
   in Sana'a. Witnesses also say electricity has been intermittent and
   opposition fighters have taken control of several government buildings,
   including the offices of the state news agency, Saba.
   Many residents fled the fighting by car on Wednesday.
   The U.S. State Department ordered non-essential diplomats and embassy
   family members to leave Yemen. The State Department said that Yemen's
   security threat level is "extremely high due to terrorist activities
   and civil unrest."
   Yemen's president has again ruled out a voluntary exit. On Wednesday,
   he condemned U.S.-backed efforts to negotiate his departure after
   nearly 33 years of authoritarian rule. He told the Reuters news agency
   that he "does not take foreign orders."
   Meanwhile, thousands of protesters again marched through the capital,
   not far from the clashes, calling on President Saleh to step down.

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

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References

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