SANAA/TAIZ – The Yemeni airforce bombed an al-Qaeda-held southern city yesterday and residents in another city said soldiers had opened fire on a demonstration and had run protesters over with bulldozers, killing at least 15.
In the latest sign Saudi Arabia’s neighbour was moving towards civil war, six soldiers were killed in what appeared to be an ambush near Zinjibar, a coastal city taken over a few days ago by Islamist and al-Qaeda militants.
Residents said jet fighters later strafed militant positions.
Global powers are worried the country could become a failed state that threatens the oil-rich region and Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter.
A brief calm was shattered on Sunday when forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh opened fire on protesters in Taiz, killing at least 15 and wounding hundreds, hospital sources said, adding the death toll was almost certain to rise.
“Most of the wounded were hit by live bullets, but some were run over by bulldozers,” a medical source said from a field hospital.
Fresh protests were planned yesterday in Taiz, where President Saleh’s troops have burned tents used by demonstrators and parked armoured vehicles in a protest area known as Freedom Square. Thousands of protesters have been camping there since January demanding an end to the regime.
Security forces arrested dozens as they tried to head off the rally demanding an end to President Saleh’s nearly 33 year rule.
Opposition leaders have accused the president of allowing the city of Zinjibar, on the Gulf of Aden, to fall to al-Qaeda and Islamist militants in order to raise alarm in the region that would in turn translate into support for the president.
The al-Qaeda and Islamist militants who took Zinjibar have been battling locals and government soldiers for control. Residents said power and water had been cut off and many civilians were fleeing to nearby towns.
In Taiz, about 150km (93 miles) to the northwest, police on Sunday night opened fire and used tear gas to disperse demonstrators demanding the release of a fellow protester arrested on Saturday.
In the capital Sanaa, several explosions were heard on Sunday night in the district of Hasaba. It has been the scene of week-long fighting between Saleh forces and the powerful Hashed tribe led by Sadeq al-Ahmar. It is estimated 115 were killed in the fighting.
About 300 people have been killed over the past months in demonstrations demanding an end to the regime. Mr Ahmar condemned what he described as “Saleh’s new massacre” in Taiz.
Generals and government officials began to abandon Saleh after deadly crackdowns on protesters started in force in March. There have been no major clashes yet between the breakaway military units and troops loyal to Saleh.