Middle East News
50 protesters killed in Yemen police firing
Mar 18, 2011, 14:47 GMT
Sana'a - Police opened fire on hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters Friday killing at least 50 people and wounding 240 in the capital, Sana'a.
Security men in civilian clothes fired live bullets at the protesters from rooftops, aiming at the head and chest, a witness told the German Press Agency dpa.
They also used tear gas and water cannons in an attempt to disperse the protesters who were demonstrating to demand the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the witness said.
The demonstrators continued to flood the square near Sana'a university to set up their tents.
Meanwhile, security forces attacked protesters camping in the northern province of Dhamar and set a number of tents ablaze, injuring dozens.
The protesters have rejected Saleh's proposals, which include giving more power to parliament and amending the constitution to meet peoples' aspirations.
Saleh, a key US ally in the fight against terrorism, has been ruling the country for 32 years. He recently announced he will not run for re-election in 2013.
Following the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, the demonstrations in Yemen started on February 11.
The international community has called on the Yemeni government to refrain from violence against protesters and journalists.
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