Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkol Karman of Yemen says her country could be pushed into a civil war unless the West stops supporting the current transition and takes strong legal and financial action against President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Karman met with Britain’s foreign secretary and other senior officials on Thursday. Karman says she told Foreign [...]
Tag: ali abdullah saleh
December 16, 2011
December 15, 2011
Yemen’s Noncompetitive Presidential Election Draws Wide Support
As Yemen transitions towards democracy, it is organizing a presidential election with only one likely candidate: Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. And that idea is drawing wide support from opposition parties and Yemen’s diplomatic partners. For months, they have been pushing for the replacement of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who recently agreed to end his [...]
December 7, 2011
UN Condemns Civilian Toll in Yemen Fighting
U.N. agencies are voicing concern about the suffering of civilians during battles between Yemen’s army and tribal fighters in the southern city of Taiz. The United Nations says more than 20 people have been killed and 80 injured since December 1. Clashes between the Yemeni army and tribal fighters in Taiz are continuing despite [...]
November 26, 2011
Yemen Instability Stokes Terror Concerns
Thousands of people took to the streets in cities across Yemen Friday, calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to be put on trial. Saleh signed an accord on Wednesday to surrender power after 33 years of rule. Western countries and Yemen’s neighbors fear the political instability could be exploited by terror groups. Thousands of people [...]
November 24, 2011
Violence Breaks Out in Yemeni Capital
At least five protesters were killed and scores of others wounded Thursday in the Yemeni capital Sana’a after gunmen in civilian clothes opened fire on them. Violence broke out despite the signing Wednesday, by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, of a plan to hand over power and hold new elections in three months. Witnesses say [...]
November 24, 2011
Yemen’s President Signs Power Transfer Deal
Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh sat down with opposition leaders in the Saudi capital Riyadh Wednesday to sign a long awaited agreement to transfer power to his vice president, hold early elections and put an end to months of bloodshed. Onlookers clapped as President Saleh and Yemeni opposition leaders signed the deal to transfer [...]
November 22, 2011
UN Envoy: Saleh Agrees to Step Down
A United Nations envoy to Yemen says negotiators have reached agreement on a plan that calls for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down in a bid to end the country’s political crisis. Jamal bin Omar said Tuesday that political leaders involved in talks had agreed to an initiative from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) [...]
November 12, 2011
Yemeni Forces Kill 11 During Protests
Yemeni government forces have killed at least 11 civilians in one of the country’s largest cities, a day after a United Nations envoy started a mission to urge President Ali Abdullah Saleh to hand over power. Medical officials and witnesses say civilians were killed early Friday when Yemeni forces renewed shelling in Taiz, where demonstrators [...]
November 11, 2011
Yemeni Forces Kill 9 During Protests
Yemeni government forces have killed at least nine civilians in Taiz, one of the country’s largest cities. Medical officials and witnesses say the civilians were killed early Friday after forces renewed shelling in Taiz, where demonstrators have been calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s departure. News reports say pro-government forces opened fire near Freedom Square, [...]
November 8, 2011
Clinton Criticizes Syria’s Assad in Mideast Democracy Speech
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said late Monday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has “systematically” violated all terms of the Arab League-mediated peace plan for his country. In a policy speech, Clinton said the United States supports democratic reform in the Middle East without reservation. Aides say Clinton made the speech to clearly affirm that [...]
November 3, 2011
Diplomat Says Yemeni Transition Deal Imminent
A European Union diplomat says that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has “indicated a readiness” to empower his deputy to manage a political transition to a new leadership for the country. The news comes as Yemeni medics and activists say fighting between government forces and opposition fighters in the country’s third-largest city has killed at [...]
October 31, 2011
Blast at Yemen Air Base Temporarily Shuts Sana’a Airport
Several large explosions shook an air base outside the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, prompting authorities to temporarily close the city’s nearby international airport Sunday. Yemeni authorities said mortar shells landed at the al-Daylami air force base, a few kilometers from the airport, causing a massive blast and sending up huge plumes of smoke. Flights were temporarily [...]
October 26, 2011
At Least 19 Killed in Yemen Fighting
Violence in Yemen has killed at least 19 people, despite a cease-fire declared by the government and forces loyal to a dissident general. Medical officials said Wednesday the victims of clashes in the cities of Sana’a and Taiz included civilians, tribal fighters and government soldiers. In the southern city of Taiz, shelling by government troops [...]
October 26, 2011
Gunfire, Explosions Heard After Yemeni Troops, Rivals Declare Cease-fire
Yemen’s government and forces loyal to a dissident general declared a cease-fire Tuesday, but residents in the capital later said they heard explosions and gunfire. Officials from both sides confirmed the agreement started at 3:00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT). However, people in Sana’a’s Hasaba district heard fighting after that. Several previous truce accords have [...]