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| Arabia |
| Arab League chief urges dialogue in Yemen |
| 2009-10-07 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Arab League chief Amr Moussa said on Tuesday Arab states supported the unity of Yemen, which faces a Shiite rebellion in the north and secessionist unrest in the south, where thousands of people took to the streets to demand independence. "(The Arab League) affirms its support for Yemen's unity, security and stability," Moussa told reporters after meeting Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. He declined to say if the Arab League would attempt to mediate in either of the two conflicts. "Any initiative or proposal must serve stability and unity ... Comprehensive national dialogue is the way," Moussa said. Analysts fear that a northern war between the army and Zaydi Shiite Muslims, as well as frequent street clashes with separatists in southern Yemen, could create instability that al-Qaeda could exploit to carry out attacks. Another theory is Iran could gain influence in Yemen through the Shiite rebels. Iran has denied any involvement but urged Sanaa to end the conflict peacefully. March for independence Meanwhile, thousands of people took to the streets of Radfan in the southern province of Abyan. Protesters held up banners calling for Arab states to protect the south, a formerly independent state that united with Sanaa in 1990. Southerners complain of political and economical marginalization by the north, even though their region holds most of the poor country's oil resources. Prostesters brandished the flag of the former independent state and chanted slogans urging Arab League support for a renewed breakaway. The northern Zaydi rebels also say they suffer religious discrimination by Sunni fundamentalists who have gained in strength because of President Saleh's close ties to Saudi Arabia, which adheres to a puritanical form of Sunni Islam. The government and the rebels have both offered ceasefires since fighting erupted in August when the government launched an operation in the north to crush them. The fighting in the north has killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Put on yer gasmasks! Send in the Egyptians! |
| Posted by: borgboy 2009-10-07 12:42 |
| #1 SAUDI ARABIA + EGYPT versus IRAN in YEMEN??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-10-07 01:43 |