BBC News Middle East
31 May 2011 Last updated at 10:59 GMT Yemen unrest: UN says 50 killed in Taiz since Sunday An anti-government protester carries a wounded colleague after clashes with police in the southern Yemeni city of Taiz May 29, 2011. Hundreds of people have been killed, wounded or arrested in months of demonstrations More than 50 people have been killed in demonstrations in the southern Yemeni city of Taiz since Sunday, the UN says. Reports, which "remain to be fully verified", also suggested hundreds had been injured in the city, the UN human rights office said. Protesters resumed rallies in Taiz on Tuesday, amid reports of new clashes. Meanwhile, fresh fighting has broken out in Sanaa between tribesmen and forces of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, ending a truce agreed at the weekend. Demonstrations are expected later in other cities against Mr Saleh, who has refused to step down despite months of protests against his rule. 'Fiercest so far' Continue reading the main story Analysis image of Lina Sinjab Lina Sinjab BBC News, Sanaa Government forces are said to have launched an attack on the base of al-Ahmar tribesmen in the Hasba area of Sanaa in an attempt to crush their control over the area. Loud explosions were heard overnight and at least two people were killed and many wounded. The attack has ended a truce announced on Saturday. Observers say this is an attempt by President Saleh's forces to retain power after tribesmen took over some government buildings and attempted to seize the headquarters of the ruling party, the General People's Congress. Government forces also launched attacks against protesters in Taiz on Monday and Tuesday, as well as in the coastal city of Zinjibar. Many here believe these are new tactics by the president to combat the pro-democracy protests that have been on going for four months. The UN said reports indicated that those in Taiz had been killed by "Yemeni army, Republican Guards and other government-affiliated elements who forcibly destroyed the protest camp in Horriya Square using water cannons, bulldozers and live ammunition". Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has urged all parties to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, saying that the "bloodshed must stop". "Such reprehensible acts of violence and indiscriminate attacks on unarmed civilians by armed security officers must stop immediately. Further violence will only yield more insecurity and move the country further away from a resolution to this political crisis," she said. At least 100 people are also believed to have been arrested over the weekend, while dozens of others remain unaccounted for. EU policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was "shocked" by the use of force and live ammunition, and described attacks on medical centres as "appalling". In Sanaa, battles have again erupted in part of the capital that is home to Sadiq al-Ahmar, the leader of the powerful Hashed tribe, breaking a truce agreed on Sunday after five days of fighting. A resident, Talal Hazza, said an artillery shell exploded outside his home and another destroyed his neighbour's house. The fighting went on for hours overnight, witnesses said. map "Last night's clashes were the fiercest so far; my children and I couldn't sleep all night because of the heavy shooting," Mohammed al-Quraiti, a resident, told Reuters. Fighting is also continuing in the southern town of Zinjibar, which the government says has been seized by gunmen from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The country's opposition has accused President Saleh of allowing the city to fall to al-Qaeda to stoke fears of a possible Islamist takeover should he leave power, according to AFP news agency. At least 320 people have been killed in various fighting in Yemen since protests against Mr Saleh to quit began in February, inspired by uprisings in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt. ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
