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Gunbattle in Yemen as transition deal collapses
SANAA - Yemeni loyalist forces fought a gunbattle on Monday with opponents of entrenched President Ali Abdullah Saleh one day after he backed out of an accord for him to step down.The clashes in Sanaa cast further dimmed prospects for a political solution to a three-month crisis in which youth-led demonstrators, inspired by protests that swept aside the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia, are demanding an end to nearly 33 years of Saleh rule. There is heavy gunfire and violent clashing between government forces and Sheikh (Sadiq) al-Ahmars guards, a witness said, referring to a powerful tribal leader who has sided with the protesters. One person was killed and 15 people were wounded, one of them a reporter of the state news agency Saba, witnesses said. The pro-opposition Suhail television said five of Ahmars guards were killed and 35 wounded. The shooting, which shattered windows at Sabas offices, followed the collapse of a transition deal mediated by Gulf neighbours that Saleh was to have signed on Sunday and would have given him immunity from prosecution, ensuring a dignified exit. The U.S. embassy closed its consular section to the public for at least two days due to a fluid security situation, the mission said in a statement. The government accused Ahmars men of firing on a school and the Saba building. Ahmars office said government forces opened fire when his guards prevented them from entering a school where Ahmar said loyalists were stockpiling weapons. South of the capital, loyalist gunmen opened fire on the headquarters of the Islamist party Islah, the biggest member of Yemens opposition coalition, in the city of Ibb. Posted by: Steve White 2011-05-24 |
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