Sana'a (dpa) – At least five people were killed Saturday when Yemeni government forces attacked a rally in the capital Sana'a, where participants were protesting a deal granting outgoing president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, immunity from prosecution, medical sources said. Dozens were injured when the troops, supported by pro-government militia, cracked down on the protesters who had arrived in Sana'a after a four-day march from the southern city of Taiz. The attackers fired live ammunition and tear gas at the protesters to prevent them from marching on to the presidential palace in Sana'a, witnesses said. “Forces of the Republican Guards attacked part of the march and also clashed with tribesmen from Khalwan district in Sana'a, who were trying to protect the rally,” Ziyazan, a protester who came from Taiz, told dpa. The elite Republican Guards are commanded by Saleh's son, Ahmed. The estimated 3,000 people taking part in the “March of life” trekked 255 kilometres, setting off from Taiz on Wednesday. They were marching to condemn the immunity granted to Saleh in return for stepping down, under a Gulf-brokered power transfer deal signed in Saudi Arabia in November. Arrangements are underway for Saleh to fly to the United States for treatment before the presidential elections, scheduled to be held in February, the UAE-based al-Khaleej newspaper reported Saturday. Saleh was wounded in June in an attack on the presidential palace. Early presidential elections are to be held as part of the deal aimed at ending the unrest in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country that began with anti-government protests in February. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/ia3ko Tags: Attack, Death, featured, Life March, March Section: Latest News, Yemen
