Manama, April 25: Yemeni security forces have opened fire on anti-government protesters, killing and wounding several civilians, medics say.
Despite a deal that would see President Ali Abdullah Saleh stand down within a month, hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets across Yemen on Monday, calling on Saleh to quit immediately.
Protesters say they do not trust Saleh to leave office as promised since he has made similar pledges in the past which he did not keep.
In the city of Ibb, south of the capital Sana’a, at least one protester was killed and over 30 others wounded after security forces and Saleh loyalists attacked a protest march.
“Security forces shot dead a protester and wounded 30 others, eight of them by live rounds,” a medical source in Ibb told to media.
According to witnesses, armed men “belonging to the ruling party” also attacked a sit-in demonstration in the southeastern province of al-Bayda, killing at least one protester.
Also in the flashpoint city of Taizz, at least 10 protesters were injured after security forces fired live rounds and tear gas at anti-regime demonstrators to disperse the huge crowd.
Similar anti-Saleh rallies were also held in Sana’a, Mukalla and Hudaydah. However, there were no reports of clashes there.
“No rest, no respite for the executioner,” the protesters shouted.
Protesters also condemned an exit plan offered by Arab states of the Persian Gulf under which Saleh would hand over power to his deputy in 30 days in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
Yemen’s ruling party, the General People’s Congress, accepted the plan on Saturday. Saleh has ruled Yemen for 32 years.
Since late January, hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for regular demonstrations in main Yemeni cities calling for measures to tackle corruption and unemployment and demanding Saleh’s ouster.
According to local sources, at least 300 protesters have been killed and many others injured during clashes with riot police and forces loyal to the Yemeni president armed with batons, knives and sticks.
—-Agencies