WUNRN
YEMEN - FIRST FEMALE PROTESTER
KILLED AS VIOLENCE CONTINUES
Mohammed al Qadhi
- October 17, 2011
SANAA - At least seven people
were killed yesterday by forces loyal to
In Sanaa, soldiers and armed
supporters loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh killed four protesters during a demonstration
where many protesters carried red flowers to signal they intended to conduct a
peaceful protest.
A spokesman for the opposition
said that 10 soldiers who defected were killed over Saturday and yesterday.
That includes two who were slain yesterday afternoon during fighting. More than
57 other protesters were wounded in the clashes, said Dr Mohammed Al Qubati,
the coordinator at a makeshift field hospital near
The female protester was killed
during a large protest in Taiz.
Dr Al Qubati said some protesters
in Sanaa were hit by rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft weapons.
"At least 12 cases are in a
critical condition," Dr Al Qubati said.
The shooting in Sanaa erupted
along the dividing line between parts of the capital held by Saleh forces and
those controlled by soldiers under the command of General Ali Mohsen Al Ahmar,
who defected from the Saleh regime.
"We will not be scared by
your artillery and tanks. We will prosecute the killers," the protesters
chanted.
Protest activists and witnesses
said snipers on rooftops and security forces opened fire on the crowd of tens
of thousands of demonstrators, marching through the streets as they were
carrying red flowers and chanting "peaceful … peaceful".
"We were protesting peacefully,"
said Ahmed Saeed, a demonstrator.
After the protesters marched,
fighting began between troops of the First Armored Division, who defected from
the regime, and forces loyal to Mr Saleh.
At
least two soldier who defected were killed in the battle. There was no
available information on casualties to the forces loyal to Mr Saleh.
The renewed violence comes one
day after Mr Saleh's forces and armed supporters shot dead at least 12
protesters in Sanaa.
Meanwhile, Mr Saleh met with his
top security and military commanders yesterday and accused his opponents of
trying to carry out a coup.
The foreign minister, Abu Bakr Al
Qirbi, attended the meeting and said Mr Saleh updated the commanders on
diplomatic matters.
Vice President Abdurabu Mansur
Hadi, who served as acting president during Mr Saleh's absence, did not attend.
His absence indictates that government power now lies in the hands of the
military.
The UN Security Council is
scheduled in the coming days to discuss a resolution to force Mr Saleh to implement
the Gulf-brokered deal which calls for him to step down and transfer power to
his deputy in return for immunity from prosecution for his family and inner
circle. Mr Saleh has baulked several times at signing the deal.
Mr Saleh lashed out at most of the
ambassadors of the UN Security Council permanent members, accusing them of
listening only to the opposition. He complimented
"We welcome peaceful
protests but we cannot accept armed protests," Mr Saleh was quoted by the
state
Mr Saleh said his opponents will
fail to drive him out.
"They will depart by the end
as those who betray the country and the revolution," he said.
Protesters vowed to continue
their demonstrations despite the danger.
"We announced the route of
our protests and carry roses to hand to the soldiers to show our marches are
peaceful. We also call on the local and international media to accompany our
marches to be a witness on our peacefulness. However, we are faced with brutal
violence," said Manee Al Matari, a leader in the youth-led protest
movement.
"We will continue with our
protests regardless of how many the regime kills. We believe our peaceful
protests are the only way to bring down this regime," said Mr Al Matari.
Mr Al Matari said the Organising
Committee of the Popular Youth Revolution, called for "millions" of
protests by women across the country today. He said that women in Sanaa will
stage a massive rally in front of the foreign ministry which is under the
control of Saleh troops.
In Taiz, armed men in plain
clothes fired on thousands of protesters, said medics and activists. Activists
said Azizah Abdu Othman, 52, was shot in the head and died, the first female
protester to be slain during the uprising.
Violent protests have mounted
after Mr Saleh returned last month from