U.S. condemns attack against Yemen's Presidential Palace

[News_Editor]

U.S. condemns attack against Yemen's Presidential Palace

2011-06-04 01:54:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- The United States strongly condemned Friday's acts of violence in Yemen including the attack against the Presidential Palace compound in the capital city Sana'a.

"We call on all sides to cease hostilities immediately and to pursue an orderly and peaceful process of transferring political power as called for in the GCC-brokered agreement," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

Violence continues escalating after Yemeni President Ali Abdullah 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 May 22.

On Friday, Saleh was injured in an attack on a mosque in the presidential compound. He was rushed to a hospital but was reported in good condition. Three soldiers were killed and the Prime Minister and the Parliament speaker were injured as well.

"Violence cannot resolve the issues that confront Yemen, and today’s events cannot be a justification for a new round of fighting. We urge all sides to heed the wishes of the Yemeni people, whose aspirations include peace, reform, and prosperity," added Carney.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) expressed alarm at the deteriorating situation in the Middle Eastern country as recent clashes have displaced thousands of people and two refugees were killed.

"In Al-Hasaba, north of Sana'a, two Somali refugees were killed in the fighting last week," said UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards. "They were a 14-year-old boy and a young woman who had fled the violence in Somalia to seek refuge in Yemen."

The escalating violence between security forces and armed tribesmen loyal to Sadeq Al-Ahmer has forced dozens of refugee families to flee Al-Hasaba for the surrounding areas.

Tribesmen from the most powerful tribal coalition, Hashid, stormed Sana'a last week to support their leader Ahmer, after government forces attacked his house. They seized several government offices which were retaken by the Yemeni army on Thursday.

From June 1-3, Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security John Brennan and his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates discussed the deteriorating situation in Yemen.

Brennan said that the United States would continue to coordinate closely with both governments on developments in Yemen in an effort to help bring an end to the violence

However, Protesters and tribesmen rejected the GCC-proposed plan as it included guarantees that Saleh will not be prosecuted after his resignation within 30 days from the acceptance date. They want Saleh to be hold responsible for the crimes committed against the population.

The GCC-proposed plan 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.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-04

[monekyface]

but America is bombing Gadafi's crib????

[Credo]

I think that the action against Libya is being done by NATO. I believe the French are taking the lead in that action.