IN THE first clashes between the two sides of Yemen’s divided army, rebel soldiers and loyalist government forces fought an hour-long battle on Tuesday, close to the strategic location of Sana’a airport.
Fighting broke out at the major Amran Circle road junction, in the north of the city, at about midnight, as Central Security Forces and the elite Republican Guard fought for control of a crucial checkpoint with rebel troops, less than half a kilometre from the airport, leaving at least one soldier dead.
“There are conflicting number of casualties and injures”, said a senior Yemeni official, referring to reports that up to five soldiers died. “But as of this point police are still in control of the circle.” Residents in the area reported hearing loud explosions and sustained gunfire.
“I heard two explosions which sounded like RPGs [rocket propelled grenades] and gunfire for about an hour,” said a resident.
Maj Gen Ali Mohsen Saleh Al-Ahmar, commander of Yemen’s largest army unit, declared his support for anti-government protesters calling for the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, more than three weeks ago, after the mass killing of 52 demonstrators, shot dead by government-linked snipers on March 18th. Eleven military leaders followed him, leaving a fractured army and fears of civil war.
Their defections marked the start of multiple attempts to mediate a peaceful political settlement between the coalition of opposition parties, the Joint Meeting Parties, and Mr Saleh. The latest deal, brokered by the Gulf Co-operation Council, reached stalemate this week as the JMP rejected a plan which would see Mr Saleh transfer power to his vice-president, without stipulating terms for his resignation.
Tuesday’s clashes raised speculation that the major general may attempt to take over the airport and other strategic locations in the capital after his troops expanded their control of the city along an 8km (5-mile) stretch of road.