SANA’A – Two Yemenis died and hundreds were hurt yesterday when police used live rounds, tear gas and batons to try to break up protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who called for an end to weeks of unrest.
The two dead were among about 10 people hit by bullets in the violence in Taiz, south of the capital, doctors said, adding that dozens were wounded, and that they treated hundreds suffering from tear gas inhalation.
The provincial governor of Taiz later denied anyone was killed and said eight soldiers were among the injured, state media said.
“Armoured vehicles and tanks are surrounding us. They have spent three hours firing tear gas and bullets [in the air] in an effort to break up the protest,” said activist Bushra al-Maqtari.
Protests inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia have brought Saleh’s rule to the verge of collapse. But the president, a perennial survivor, called yesterday for an end to the violence, signalling that he had no intention of resigning soon.
“We call on the opposition coalition to end the crisis by ending sit-ins, blocking roads and assassinations, and they should end the state of rebellion in some military units,” Mr Saleh told visiting supporters from Taiz province. “We are ready to discuss transferring power, but in a peaceful and constitutional framework,” he added.
His ruling party also said it had not received a proposed transition plan from opposition parties that envisages Saleh handing power to a vice-president while steps are taken towards creating a national unity government and calling new elections. “We havent got it yet,” an official said. – (Reuters)