Yemen opposition accuses Saleh of allowing al-Qaida militants to seize town

Yemen opposition accuses Saleh of allowing al-Qaida militants to seize town

2011-05-30 00:23:04 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANAA, YEMEN (BNO NEWS) -- Yemen's opposition on Sunday accused President Ali Abduallah Saleh of allowing al-Qaida militants to seize Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan province.

According to the Yemen Post, the opposition Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) said in a statement that Saleh government was behind arming the militants in Zinjibar. It said that these militants work for Saleh and are made up by him to use against the people when he wants.

"He uses these tactics to show the international community what risks Yemen would pass through if he leaves office," said the statement.

Militants took control of Zinjibar, forcing thousands of locals to evacuate the city fearing that attacks will continue for a while. At least two people were killed and several others injured on Sunday in clashes between the security forces and the militants.

"The Yemeni government is giving al-Qaeda a chance to strengthen itself while it is as weak as ever in Yemen," a senior opposition JMP official said.

Meanwhile, tribal fighters loyal to Hashid sheikh, Sadeq Al-Ahmer, started today handing over some offices to the mediation committee after signing a ceasefire on Saturday. The truce came after five consecutive days of street battles that left dozens dead and hundreds injured.

In addition, at least two protesters were killed and dozens others injured on Sunday when security forces fired live bullets at a peaceful demonstration in Taiz province.

Violence has increased in recent days after Saleh threatened with civil war after refusing, for the third time, to sign a power transfer deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) last Sunday.

The opposition signed the deal on Saturday to end the country's political crisis but Saleh told visiting GCC Secretary General Abdul Latif Al-Zayani his refusal to the transition deal. The GCC-proposed plan included guarantees that Saleh will not be prosecuted after his resignation within 30 days from the acceptance date. It also called for holding presidential elections within two months from the date of Saleh's departure as well as the establishment of a new government within 90 days.

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