Death toll climbs as protests enter 2nd week in Yemen
>From Mohammed Jamjoom, CNN
February 18, 2011 -- Updated 1147 GMT (1947 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* NEW: Pro- and anti-government demonstrators clash
* Death toll from Thursday's violence grows to four
* Yemen has seen nearly a week of daily demonstrations as protests sweep
the region
* Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been in power for 32 years
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Sanaa, Yemen (CNN) -- Thousands of anti-government demonstrators clashed with
pro-government groups on the streets of the Yemeni capital of Sanaa following
Friday's midday prayers, ushering in a second week of unrest to the Middle
Eastern nation.
The protesters quickly gathered around Sanaa University as government security
forces blocked some streets and medics waited for potential casualties. They
didn't have to wait long as pro-government protesters plunged into the crowd,
throwing rocks and brandishing sticks.
The developments came as hospital and local government officials upped the
death toll from Thursday's violence to four people.
It was unclear whether a call for calm in the midst of the violence by the
country's most influential religious cleric, Sheikh Abdulmajeed Al-Zindani,
would be heeded. On Thursday, he said religious clerics in the country were
calling for a unity government.
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RELATED TOPICS
* Yemen
* Aden
An official government source expressed his surprise at the attention the
unrest was generating worldwide, accusing some of the media of "false,
misleading and biased information," the state-run Saba news agency reported
Thursday.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that "at least four
photojournalists were attacked, beaten and had their cameras confiscated" by
pro-government supporters at the protests.
The latest casualties bring the death toll from Wednesday and Thursday in Aden
to five, after shots were fired into a crowd of anti-government protesters in
the Al-Mansoora district.
Aref al-Qubati, a participant who said one of the victims was a friend, told
CNN that police fired to disperse protesters.
Longtime Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has called for an investigation
into the violence in Aden and Vice President Abdu Rabo Mansour Hadi met with
the governor Thursday, Saba reported.
The top European Union foreign policy official, Catherine Ashton, is "very
concerned" about the events in Aden, her representative said in a statement
Thursday.
Ashton "strongly deplores the loss of life and violence and calls for calm and
restraint of all parties," the statement said, calling for "genuine,
comprehensive and inclusive national dialogue."
And in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, at least 20 people were injured in clashes there
between stone-throwing pro- and anti-government demonstrators, opposition
lawmaker Ahmed Hashid said Thursday. Police at the scene did not try to
intervene, he said.
In Taiz, thousands have been taking part in demonstrations that entered a
seventh day Friday.
Saleh met with his National Defense Council on Wednesday to discuss
developments in Yemen, Saba reported.
The council "stressed all should practice their rights according to the
constitution, in a peaceful way and without violence, chaos, sabotage and
lawbreaking."
Saleh also spoke on Wednesday with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah,
whose country is also embroiled in unrest, Saba reported.
"He pointed out that there are schemes aimed at plunging the region into chaos
and violence targeting the nation's security and the stability of its
countries," according to Saba. "Those who commit acts of disorder and vandalism
(are) simply implementing suspicious foreign agendas ..."
The report didn't suggest who might be behind the agendas.
Yemen is among several Middle Eastern nations convulsed by daily protests after
the revolts that toppled the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt in recent weeks.
Anti-government protesters have called for the ouster of Saleh, who has ruled
the country since 1978.
The country has been wracked by a Shiite Muslim uprising, a U.S.-aided
crackdown on al Qaeda operatives, a secessionist movement in its
once-independent south and a looming shortage of water.
In an attempt to quell growing discontent, Saleh has announced that he won't
seek another term in 2013 and would postpone parliamentary elections scheduled
for April to allow more time for reform talks with the opposition.
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