Yemenis demand interim council as clashes continue

Jun 7, 2011, 17:31 GMT

Cairo/Sana'a - Yemeni security forces on Tuesday fought battles against an armed group accused of having links with al-Qaeda and, separately, with armed tribesmen in the south of the country demanding an interim council to lead the country.

The opposition insisted President Ali Abdullah Saleh must not return to Yemen after he left for Saudi Arabia for medical treatment following an attack on his residence on Friday.

Around 2,000 protesters in Sana'a marched to the home of the vice president with two main demands.

'We are marching to call for the immediate creation of an interim council. This is a crucial time to push for our demands,' said Salah Alsharafy, a 21 year old student.

'We are calling on Abd-Rabbo Manour to protect the lives of Yemenis all over the country and stop attacks on protesters,' said Nader Abdelraqib, a protester.

Protesters plan to camp in front of the vice president's house for 24 hours or 'until an interim council is formed' said Ahmed Ali, another protester.

At least 11 people were killed in overnight clashes on the outskirts of the town of Zangibar in the province of Abyan, as the military fought armed militants in an attempt to regain control of the southern city, Maareb Press reported on its website.

Seven of those killed were soldiers, and four were reportedly al-Qaeda gunmen.

The military was sending reinforcements to surround Zingibar in preparation for a new attack, broadcaster Al Jazeera reported.

Yemen's opposition accused Saleh of 'handing over' Zangibar to al-Qaeda last month, in an attempt to frighten Western leaders and gain their support for his bid to remain in power.

Zangibar residents were reported to be fleeing the clashes.

'My parents and our neighbors are now housing a number of families from Zangibar who are displaced due to the recent attacks' said Saeed Ahmed, a resident of the southern province of Aden.

Tuesday morning, witnesses told the German Press Agency dpa that clashes occurred outside the southeastern city of Taiz and near the old airport.

This occurred after overnight clashes between anti-government tribes and security forces loyal to Saleh took place in Taiz, residents said.

According to Abdulrashid Alfaqih, director of Hewar Center for Human Rights, there have been 21 confirmed deaths since last Sunday in Taiz alone.

'Our house was hit with a missile and it landed in our garden. Thankfully no one was hurt from our family, but unfortunately our neighbor was hurt with shrapnel that hit his stomach,' said Sadeq Almaktary, a protester in Taiz.

Regional broadcaster Al Arabiya reported that the tribesmen had taken over the city, which has seen serious clashed between government forces and anti-Saleh protesters in recent weeks

Residents in Taiz said the situation was calmer Tuesday. However, residents continued to disobey government orders by protesting in the main square while the majority of stores remain closed.

'We can't be sure that things will remain quiet. Attacks usually happen at night' said Hussein Alsuhaily, a Taiz resident.

Protesters in Taiz organized a cleaning day in the streets of the city after the government banned cleaning trucks from entering the city.

Abd-Rabbo Mansour, Saleh's deputy and acting president, has entered into a ceasefire agreement with rebel tribesmen to halt fighting in the capital Sana'a. Yet occasional explosions and gun shots were heard overnight in the capital.

Some Yemeni officials have insisted that Saleh is still president of the country and will return to Sana'a 'in a few days.'

Members of a group called The Executive Committee of the Revolution said they will escalate protests if a broad-based presidential council was not formed this week, committee member Wasim el-Qorshy said.

For at least four months, mass protests demanding Saleh's ouster after more than 30 years in power spread throughout Yemen, in the face of a violent government crackdown, with over 350 people killed nationwide.