Street battles in Yemeni capital leave 41 dead

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Street battles in Yemeni capital leave 41 dead

By AHMED AL-HAJ, Associated Press Ahmed Al-haj, Associated Press – 44 mins ago

SANAA, Yemen – Government forces and tribal fighters exchanged gun and artillery

fire in Yemen's capital early Wednesday, sending the crackle of gunfire and

resounding booms over the city in fresh fighting that killed at least 41 people.

The fighting spread to new areas, with tribesmen from the powerful Hasid

confederation seizing buildings in neighborhoods in the city's south and

northwest.

The urban battles over the last week have posed a new threat to President Ali

Abdullah Saleh's 33-year rule. For nearly four months, thousands of Yemenis have

filled the streets daily, calling for democratic reforms and Saleh's ouster. The

mostly peaceful protests gave way last week to violence between Saleh's security

forces and fighters loyal to Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar, head of the country's largest

tribal coalition.

Saleh's often violent attempts to quash the protests have led the U.S. to turn

away from its one-time ally, once considered a necessary partner in fighting

Yemen's active al-Qaida branch.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday called Saleh's refusal to

step down " a source of great conflict " that has caused violence.

" We cannot expect this conflict to end unless President Saleh and his government

move out of the way to permit the opposition and civil society to begin a

transition to political and economic reform, " she told reporters in Washington.

Fighting in Sanaa raged until 5 a.m. then continued in bursts throughout the

day. Witnesses said units of the elite Presidential Guard, commanded by one of

Saleh's sons, shelled the headquarters of an army brigade responsible for

guarding sensitive government institutions. Army officers who have defected to

the opposition said the government suspected the brigade commander was about to

join forces with the movement to oust Saleh.

Opposition army officers, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with army

rules, said the armored brigade commander, Brigadier-General Mohammed Khalil,

was neutral and without political affiliation but had apparently angered Saleh.

A resident who lives close to the fighting and would only give his first name,

Zaher, said columns of smoke and fire billowed from Khalil's brigade

headquarters and explosions could be heard.

The 41 dead included combatants from both sides of the conflict, said the

medical officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

The fighting has engulfed the northern Hassaba neighborhood, where tribal

fighters have seized a number of government ministries and buildings. Government

artillery fire has heavily damaged the house of al-Ahmar, the tribal leader, and

the government has cut the area's electricity and water supplies.

The units, led by one of Saleh's sons, and special forces wearing uniforms of

government security troops attacked but failed to recapture the Hassaba

administrative building from tribal gunmen.

Fighting spread to other areas of the city Wednesday, with al-Ahmar fighters

seizing the office of the General Prosecutor in the city's northwest. They were

accompanied by two armored vehicles from the 1st Armored Division, whose

powerful commander abandoned the president two months ago. So far, however, his

troops have not participated in battles against Saleh's security forces.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that tribesmen had also taken over a

five-story building in the Hadda neighborhood in the city's south after clashing

with the army. The area is a stronghold of Saleh supporters.

Yemen's official news agency SABA called the tribal fighters " armed gangs, "

saying that they looted supplies, furniture, documents and other things from the

buildings they seized.

The fighting has caused a number of countries to close or scale back their

diplomatic missions. Kuwait, Italy and Qatar have withdrawn their diplomats, and

the United States has advised American civilians to leave the country.

___

Lee contributed to this report from Washington.