Sanaa, October 17: Powerful explosions have rocked Yemen’s capital amid reports of clashes between Ali Abdullah Saleh’s forces and anti-regime fighters in the north of the country, Media reports.
The blasts rang out in the north of Sana’a on Sunday as Saleh’s loyalists continued their brutal crackdown on the pro-democracy protests in the north.
At least 13 people have been killed and over a dozen others injured in the latest round of violence in the capital as well as the southern city of Taizz, where a woman was among the fatalities.
Taizz is one of the focal points of the popular movement, which has been raging on against the US-backed regime since January.
Witnesses said snipers on rooftops fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at the Sana’a demonstrators.
According to local reports, hundreds of Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the uprising.
People are demanding the immediate resignation of Saleh, his prosecution for ordering the killing of protesters, as well as an end to corruption and unemployment.
He returned to Yemen from Saudi Arabia on September 23 after receiving treatment for wounds he had sustained in a June attack on the presidential palace.
Saleh has already been in office for more than 30 years, with several opposition members arguing that his long-promised reforms have not been implemented.
Nearly 40 percent of Yemen’s population live on USD 2 a day or less and a third are struggling with chronic hunger.
——Agencies