Sunday, June 5, 2011

Blast rattles Yemen security HQ in Taizz


Sat Jun 4, 2011 5:58PM
A wounded civilian is being transported on a stretcher at a makeshift clinic outside Sana'a University on Saturday, June 4, 2011.
A powerful blast rocks National Security headquarters in Yemen's southern city of Taizz as embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh recovers from the wounds he sustained a day earlier.


The explosion came on Saturday, one day after an attack on the Yemeni presidential palace left Saleh and six other officials wounded in the capital, Sana'a.

According to the Saudi Arabia's state television, Saleh is currently in the kingdom for medical treatment. However, some Yemeni sources say that the president is still in Sana'a.

“Saleh is still in Sana'a," a Yemeni official told Reuters on Saturday, adding that, “He had suffered minor wounds to his head and I believe his face."

"I am well, in good health," Saleh said in an audio statement broadcast on state television late Friday.

Saleh blamed "the sons of al-Ahmar," for the attacks and urged "the security forces to purge state institutions of these gangs."

He was referring to Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar -- the leader of the powerful Hashid tribal federation -- who has been fighting a deadly battle with the regime in Sana'a over the past two weeks.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for the almost daily demonstrations in Yemen's major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment as well as demanding the ouster of Saleh, who has been ruling the Middle Eastern country since 1978.

VM/PKH/MMN
Share this article:
Send to friendPrint this article
Related Stories:

No comments:

Post a Comment