Mortar shells bombard Sanaa: 18 dead, 30 wounded

SANAA // Eighteen people were killed and more than 30 were wounded overnight Sunday in an unprecedented bombardment of shells and mortar fire by Yemen's forces and street fighting between tribes and troops opposing President Ali Abdullah Saleh and regime supporters.

Medics said three protesters were killed when shells hit the protest camp in Sanaa where thousands have camped out since February to demand Mr Saleh step down.

"They have shelled the area randomly and some have fallen on our camp. We had to leave the tents and look for shelter in the surrounding buildings, while some refused to leave and continued chanting slogans against the president," said Shadi Mohammed, a protester.

Some 10 rockets struck around the square, including one close to a field clinic, a medic at the facility said.

Eight followers of a powerful tribal leader who defected to the opposition in March were killed in predawn clashes with forces loyal to Mr Saleh in the northern sector of the capital, according to medical, security and tribal officials. Four civilians caught in the crossfire and two pro-regime soldiers were also killed in the fighting, in which mortars, rockets and heavy machine-guns were used. The city was rocked by the sound of explosions for much of the night, until the fighting ceased at sunrise yesterday. Also, a man was killed in the city of Taiz, when pro-government gunmen fired on protesters yesterday.

Just before dawn, the base of the First Armoured Division led by a breakaway army unit was shelled by hundreds of mortars and rockets, shaking the north part of the capital. The shelling also targeted the checkpoints which the rebel troops set in the part of the capital under their control. Government forces also bombed Al Eman University, a religious school close to the division compound.

Dozens of vehicles were reported smashed by the random shelling. At least six vehicles that belong to residents were smashed in one area of Al Rawdah neighbourhood when two stray shells hit the street in front of a fuel station, shattering the windows of nearby homes.

"I cannot understand why Saleh forces are shelling the area indiscriminately. Our women and kids were terrified and we had a sleepless night," said a resident as he joined a group of people yesterday assessing the damage.

The violence opponents came hours after Mr Saleh, who has rebuffed pressure from the protesters, political rivals and foreign governments to resign, criticised the opposition and Yemen was witnessing a "military-Islamic coup".

The UN Security Council is expected to vote this week on a resolution calling on Mr Saleh to implement the Gulf-brokered deal that calls for him to step down and transfer power to his deputy in return for immunity from prosecution for his family and inner circle. He has backed away from signing the deal several times.

During a meeting of his top military and security leaders on Sunday, Mr Saleh lashed out at Western states with permanent seats in the UN Security Council, accusing them of not understanding the situation in Yemen and of basing their assessment on information from the opposition.

One report said Mr Saleh, at the meeting, declared "all-out war" on "the so-called revolution forces".

In a statement issued by the rebel army yesterday, all military and security forces under Mr Saleh's control were urged to disobey any orders to kill people. It estimated that more than 91 have died since the president returned from his recuperation in Saudi Arabia on September 23.

Thousands of women protested yesterday in front of the foreign ministry building to denounce violence and demand the international community to interfere and protect the lives of protesters.

"Those who kill the youths of the revolution and peaceful demonstrators should be executed," said a banner carried by the protesters. In Yemen's second-largest city Taiz, tens of thousands of women demonstrated to condemn the killing of Aziza Ghaleb, 21, who on Sunday became the first woman to be killed since anti-Saleh protests erupted in January. France yesterday condemned the use of force against protesters and urged respect for human rights. "We condemn in the strongest terms the use of force against demonstrators and call on parties to exercise restraint... Violence should stop and the international law, mainly human rights, should be respected," said foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero. At least 16 protesters were killed and hundreds wounded on Saturday and Sunday when they marched crossing the dividing line between parts of the capital held by government forces and those controlled by rebel troops. Anti-regime troops said 10 of their troopers were killed by government Saleh snipers and shelling on Saturday and Sunday.

The Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakul Karaman yesterday sent a plea to the UN Secretary General, urging the UN to protect the lives of civilians and peaceful protesters.

malqadhi@thenational.ae with additional reports from Agence-France Presse and Associated Press