The Yemeni capital of Sana faces increasing violence as government forces battle against soldiers who have joined the antigovernment protestors in their seven month long movement to oust current President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
At least 10 people were killed Tuesday, according to media officials, bringing the death toll to more than 60, most of whom were unarmed protestors caught in the middle of the shootings. Yemen, the Arab world’s most impoverished country and a haven for Islamic militants, has found itself racing toward a civil war.
Tuesday also brought the first signs of actual battle as government forces started to shell different opposition residences with mortars, killing protesters in the process. Officials also closed Sana’s main airport, which has remained without passenger flights.
The United Nations sent a special envoy along with a delegation from the Gulf Cooperation Council Monday to attempt to mediate between the two sides. However, protestors have opposed all attempts at observing the country’s current status quo instead in favor of a complete revision of the social system.
The protestors are led by Major General Ali Ahmar who organized a peaceful protest then ordered his followers to attack the government troops which resulted in a lethal response from the troops. Many protestors consider their fight similar to the one in Libya expect for one key difference. The international community has yet to offer any support to the rebels and their plight.
By Sami Pathan
—sources: www.nytimes.com, www.time.com