Clashes in the night in Sana’a, 24 dead
An arsenal explodes, another 28 victims

SANA’A – There would be at least 24 victims in this night’s clashes in Sana’a between army soldiers, loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and militiamen from Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar tribe. This was announced by a Yemeni government official quoted by satellite television ‘al-Arabiya’. This morning, however, the explosion of an arsenal caused 28 deaths. Some eyewitnesses, cited instead by the competitor ‘al-Jazeera’, argue that in the fighting of the night the sheik al-Ahmar’s home was seriously damaged. The increase in tension has led the US to evacuate relatives of diplomatic personnel.

The fighting erupted during the night in the area of ​​Arhab, north of Sana’a International Airport. The airport had been closed due to clashes and flights diverted to Aden in southern Yemen. But an official source of the airport, quoted by the ‘Saba’, reported that this morning the airport is operational again. The clashes near the airport of the Yemeni capital Sanaa are “still ongoing”, the mediation to stop fighting “is over” and President Ali Saleh must “go away”: said Sadek al-Ahmar who added: ” President Saleh takes us to the civil war, the Arab countries must put pressure on them to leave, “he thundered, appealing to the Yemeni tribes to support him against the president, who “will leave the country bare-footed”, says Ahmar.

Monday, security forces loyal to Saleh, which refuses to resign despite appeals from the international community, are besieging the residence of Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, head of the Hashed and opposition tribes. According to the latest report, there would be at least 68 victims of fighting from the beginning of the clashes.

According to a statement from the interior ministry quoted by the Sheba agency, “al Ahmar’s sons and their gang threw grenades on many inhabitants in the area of ​​al Hasaba”. One of them hit a house, killing four civilians including a woman, the ministry said. The authorities in Sana’a have made it known that the tribal elements “have not yet responded to the president’s appeal to cease their attacks against members of the security forces and public buildings”, placing the full responsibility of the consequences of their aggression “.

Arrest order for Sadiq al-Ahmar. In a statement published on his website, the national prosecutor announced that he had ordered the arrest of Sheikh Sadek al-Ahmar and his nine brothers. Another source from the Sanaa government said that the headquarters of the opposition TV has been “destroyed”, but has not provided any other details.

US alienate diplomatic family members. Meanwhile, with a decision that reflects the growth of tension in Yemen, the United States has decided to evacuate the families of US diplomatic personnel and all the non-essential employees of the diplomatic headquarters. The State Department has warned all American citizens in the country of the high level of insecurity due to terrorist activities and civil unrest. Yesterday, US President Barack Obama asked London’s Yemeni President, Ali Abdallah Saleh, to leave power.
(May 26, 2011)