Three killed in fresh Yemen clashes

Three killed in fresh Yemen clashes

2011-04-05 23:56:15 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANAA, YEMEN (BNO NEWS) -- Three pro-government followers were killed on Tuesday in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a by the military loyal to Major General Ali Mohsen, which have been protecting anti-government protesters.

"We do not attack anyone and our duty is to defend the unarmed protesters," the military spokesperson said, according to the Yemen Post.


"The pro government followers had weapons and wanted to enter change square by force to cause another massacre, and we had to keep protesters safe."

The violence came a day after at least 15 protesters were killed during clashes with security forces in the city of Taiz.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called on the Yemeni government to immediately halt the use of force against protesters and condemned the violent suppression of protests in Taiz.

"We are very alarmed by reports of disproportionate and excessive use of force, including machine guns, against peaceful protestors by Government security forces in Taiz yesterday, which apparently led to at least 15 deaths and dozens of serious injuries," OHCHR spokesperson Rupert Colville told a news conference in Geneva on Tuesday.

According to the UN, it is estimated that the recent political turmoil in Yemen has led to more than 100 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The OHCHR believes, however, this may be a conservative estimate.

President Saleh blamed the unrest on a foreign agenda and added that some hostile media outlets have exaggerated about the situation in Yemen. He recently fired his government and then designated it as caretaker until a new government is formed.

The decision was announced after 52 protesters were killed by security forces on March 25. Yemeni protesters have been demanding the resignation of Saleh for the past two months. The demonstrations were initially inspired by the Tunisian revolt, but they gathered momentum with the success of Egypt's revolution.

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