Yemen's rival forces given two-day deadline to demilitarize

Jan 12, 2012, 8:35 GMT

Sana'a - A Yemeni committee of security and military agencies has given rival forces two days to remove military barricades and gunmen from the capital Sana'a as part of an effort to re-establish security in the country, reported state news agency SABA Thursday.

'The committee will check, starting from Saturday, the situation in all streets, public and private buildings and schools,' the agency reported, quoting General Ali Saeed, the committee's spokesman.

He added that the committee would not 'hesitate' about identifying the violators. However, he did not say if and how offenders would be punished.

Sana'a has been the scene of violent clashes between opponents of and forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the past 10 months.

The committee has been created under a United Nations-sponsored power transfer deal signed by Saleh and opposition leaders last November.

The deal grants Saleh immunity from prosecution in return for his relinquishing power.

Yemen, an impoverished Arabian Peninsula country, has been gripped since last February by protests against Saleh's 33-year rule.