SANA'A: Late on Tuesday night, forces loyal to tribal leader Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar and government forcs clashed in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital. Residents in Hasaba, a northern district of the capital under control of the Sheikh said that the Republican Guards were pounding the area with heavy artillery and mortar shells. Defected General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar's base also became target of the widespread attack as loud explosions echoed throughout the city well in the early hours of the morning. Local sources reported that violent street-battles ensued, opposing tribesmen and President Ali Abdallah Saleh loyalists, leaving many wounded near the Interior Ministry with RPGs being used on both sides. Residents were left unable to leave their homes as rooftops were crawling with snipers ready to shoot at whoever dared ventured outside. “Militants and army soldiers have been fighting near the Interior Ministry since dawn. They're using machineguns and RPGs,” Abdul Rahman, a Sana'a resident, told Bikyamasr.com by phone as gunfire reverberated in the background. “We are trapped in our homes and can't get out,” he said. Tanks and armored vehicles have now spread out across the capital making people fear that more fighting and violence is about to befall the war-stricken nation. Reports coming from Taiz, Ibb, Arhab and Nehem confirmed that there too the government was leading a shelling campaign putting the power-transfer deal in serious jeopardy. Already politicians from the Opposition and revolutionaries have warned that President Ali Abdullah Saleh had despite having signed the GCC brokered initiative no real intention of handing power, nor did his family members. As proof they advanced that Saleh was continuing to receive officials and issue decree. “He is now an honorary president, not an acting president, and yet he carries on as nothing happened. Mind you none does anything about it,” said a member of revolutionary opposition. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/DnDVF Tags: Clashes, featured, Sanaa, Violence Section: Latest News, Yemen
