[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]
|
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
International News Title: As Violence Returns To Yemen President Blames Foreign Plots Sanaa, Yemen (CNN) -- As the ninth day of protests left one dead and five wounded Saturday, Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh blamed the roiling unrest on foreign agendas and a plot against Yemen's stability, according to state-run Saba news agency. "Everybody has the right to express his views peacefully and has the right to have a say through media as there are many democratic means for the expression of opinion," Saleh told Saturday's founding conference of Civil Society Organizations, according to the Saba agency. The president said he hoped the conference will come up recommendations to alleviate the country's current unstable situation. "We do not want to copy others, but we shall define what we want," he said, according to state-run Saba. Saleh expressed concern about violence in the coastal city of Aden, where five persons have been killed since Wednesday in anti-government demonstrators, according to hospital and government officials said. Saleh urged non-violent change through the ballot box, according to the state-run news agency. In an attempt to quell growing discontent, Saleh, a key U.S. ally in the fight against an offshoot of al Qaeda in Yemen, has announced he won't seek another term in 2013 after being in power for 32 years. He also said he would postpone parliamentary elections scheduled for April to allow more time for discussions about reform. Yemen's situation is exacerbated by the U.S.-aided crackdown on al Qaeda, a Shiite uprising, a secessionist movement in its once-independent south, and a looming shortage of water. Hundreds of Yemeni anti-government protesters clashed with pro-government demonstrators Saturday at Sanaa University, eyewitnesses and a local human rights group said. Gunshots were fired into the crowd, leaving one dead and five wounded, they said. Four of the injured were hospitalized and are in stable condition, said Khulaid Mashraqi, a local doctor. Two were shot in the leg while the other two had wounds to the head, he said. "There were 30 to 40 pro-government gang members there that were randomly shooting at us," said Esam Al-Hajjaji, an anti-government protester who was shot in the leg. Saturday marked the ninth consecutive day of protests in Yemen. The Yemen parliament expressed its regrets Saturday for all the victims of the ongoing violent demonstrations, according to the state-run news outlet. In a statement, the parliament condemned any outlaw sabotage and violence as well as attempts to disturb the country's security and stability. It rejected any efforts promoting "hatred and regionalism culture" and called on security forces to enhance stability and protect citizens, according to state-run media agency. The parliament also called upon all Yemenis to put Yemen first among their priorities. The state-run Saba news agency said Saturday that an official source at the Interior Ministry has denounced some reports that security personnel in civilian clothes participated in marches. "These fabrications are baseless and aims at insulting the security services," the source told Saba. The source also said security personnel are present in uniform near all rallies of pro- and anti-government marchers to maintain security and public order. The U.S. Embassy issued a statement Friday voicing concern for what it called "a disturbing rise in the number and violence of attacks against Yemeni citizens gathering peacefully to express their views on the current political situation." The embassy said it had received reports that government officials were present during the attacks. "The attacks are contrary to the commitments that President Saleh has made to protect the right of Yemeni citizens to gather peacefully to express their views," the statement said. On Friday, supporters of Ali Abdullah Saleh hurled rocks and plunged into a crowd calling for the longtime president's ouster in Sanaa as similar protests gained momentum in other Yemeni towns. In the wake of Egyptians successfully toppling President Hosni Mubarak more than a week ago, thousands of people in several Arab nations were trying to score their own victories. On Friday, Yemenis marched to Sanaa University, where security forces and riot police tried to stay between rival demonstrators. "After Mubarak, now it's Ali's turn," chanted the anti-government protesters. "The people want the fall of the regime." "I'm out here today because we want the president to go and we want to make sure that he and his family don't stay in power," said Khalid Amer, a student. Despite concessions from Saleh, a rising tide of anger is sweeping through Yemen's youth, who say they are simply fed up with the status quo. Saleh, in power for 32 years, met earlier in the week with his National Defense Council on to discuss discontent in his nation. The council "stressed all should practice their rights according to the constitution, in a peaceful way and without violence, chaos, sabotage and lawbreaking," the state-run Saba agency said. Saleh has also been in touch with King Hamad of Bahrain, also mired in unrest. "He pointed out that there are schemes aimed at plunging the region into chaos and violence targeting the nation's security and the stability of its countries," according to Saba. "Those who commit acts of disorder and vandalism (are) simply implementing suspicious foreign agendas." The report didn't suggest who might be behind the agendas.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread |
|
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]
|