Yemeni troops kill 15 protesters demanding instant Saleh exit

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

Yemeni troops firing against protesters left at least 15 people killed and more than 130 wounded in Sanaa. (File Photo)

By DINA AL-SHIBEEB
Al Arabiya with Agencies

At least 15 people were killed and more than 130 wounded as Yemeni troops fired at anti-regime protesters in Sana’a on Wednesday, according to Agence-France Presse.

Eight bodies were taken to a private university hospital and one was carried off to a field hospital in the main square where a protest camp has been active for the past three months, sources told AFP.

They said 10 of the wounded were in serious condition, after violence broke out as troops moved in to disperse the demonstration to call for the immediate ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Hundreds of young activists demonstrated outside the Saudi embassy in the Yemeni capital on Wednesday in protest against a Gulf plan for President Saleh’s staggered exit from power.

The exit was part of a plan that the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council had worked out. President Saleh as well as opposition groups had agreed to the plan on Tuesday. The GCC proposed the formation of a national unity government, with President Saleh transferring powers to his vice president. The expectation was that the plan would end protests rocking Yemen, the impoverished neighbor of the oil-rich Gulf monarchies.

On Wednesday, leaders from the opposition and the Yemeni government were scheduled to meet in Riyadh to create a transitional government with a presidential election held within two months and for Mr. Saleh to end his 32-year rule within 30 days with immunity from prosecution.

But on Wednesday, protesters on the streets insisted that Mr. Saleh should go immediately, once again voicing opposition to the GCC plan.

“Youth of the revolt reject the Gulf initiative,” said a banner carried by the protesters.

The demonstrators said politicians could not hijack their three-month-old campaign for the ouster of President Saleh that has cost more than 135 lives.

(Dina Al-Shibeeb of Al Arabiya can be reached at: dina.ibrahim@mbc.net)