Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    October 22, 2011

Clashes Erupt in Yemen's Capital

   VOA News
   Yemeni female protesters show their hands with colors of the
   pre-Gadhafi Libya, Yemen and Syria flags during a demonstration
   demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh in
   Sana'a, Yemen, October 21, 2011.
   Photo: AP
   Yemeni female protesters show their hands with colors of the
   pre-Gadhafi Libya, Yemen and Syria flags during a demonstration
   demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh in
   Sana'a, Yemen, October 21, 2011.

   Fierce clashes erupted on two fronts in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, on
   Saturday, a day after the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution
   condemning the government's crackdown on dissent.
   Witnesses say security forces have raided neighborhoods that are home
   to family members of an opposition tribal leader, Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar.
   They say plumes of smoke have been seen rising from several areas.
   In another part of Sana'a, government forces have clashed with
   loyalists of Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, a Yemeni general who joined the
   opposition.
   Friday's Security Council measure was the body's first resolution on
   Yemen since widespread protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh
   began earlier this year.
   It calls Yemen's use of force against protestors excessive and says
   "those responsible for violence, human rights violations and abuses
   should be held accountable."
   The resolution also reaffirms support for a Gulf Cooperation Council
   (GCC) initiative that calls for Saleh to transfer power to a deputy in
   exchange for immunity from prosecution.
   Saleh has agreed to the plan several times, but each time, he has
   backed away without signing the deal.
   For the past ten months, opposition activists have been demanding an
   end to Saleh's 33-year autocratic rule. Dozens of people have died in
   protest-related unrest over the past few days.
   Yemen has also been plagued by violence linked to al-Qaida militants.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
   Follow our Middle East reports on [1]Twitter
   and discuss them on our [2]Facebook page.

References

   1. http://twitter.com/VOAMidEast
   2. http://www.facebook.com/pages/VOAMiddleEastVoices/124360240958667?%20%20%20%20v=wall

.