SANA'A: Victoria Nuland, the US State Department spokeswoman, stated in her address to the press that the White House was “deeply troubled by reports of attacks against peaceful demonstrators in Taiz,” adding that it was time for all parties to reach an agreement and for the government to exercise restraint. Nuland added that the US would push for an independent investigation to be launched into the killings of civilians, answering the calls of lawyers and human rights activists in Yemen. “We are deeply troubled by reports of attacks against civilians in the city of Taiz. We extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. We condemn violence by all parties in Yemen and call for all sides to exercise maximum restraint.We also call for a prompt investigation into the circumstances of these attacks and for those responsible to be brought to justice,” she said. The US reactions to the killing came amidst the presence in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital, of UN envoy Jamal Benomar, who came to the conflict-stricken nation to finalize a power-transfer deal in between ailing dictator, President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the political Opposition. Despite many presidential assurances that the regime was supporting a quick and peaceful resolution of the “crisis,” no deal has been signed so far. Political sources on both sides have said that the matter of early election and the resignation from office of Saleh and his family members were the main roadblocks. To make matters worse, people on the streets are now refusing a deal which would grant Saleh and his regime legal immunity from prosecution as they argued that they should be referred to the international Criminal Court. Nuland finally urged Saleh to make good on his promise to step down. “If President Saleh cares about Yemen's future and the well-being of the Yemeni people, he must immediately initiate a full transfer of power,” she said. BM
