43 Yemeni opposition members accused of bombing oil pipelines

43 Yemeni opposition members accused of bombing oil pipelines

2011-06-26 01:54:40 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANAA, YEMEN (BNO NEWS) -- The Yemeni Interior Ministry on Saturday announced a list of 43 members of the country's largest opposition coalitions suspected of bombing oil pipelines and power towers in the central Marib province.

The ministry said the members of the Joint Meeting Party (JMP) carried out the attacks that led to acute fuel shortage and day-and-night power outages. Blackouts happen more than 20 hours a day in many cities across the country, while fuel, water and other key supply shortages have increased the price of such supplies.


The ministry ordered all security systems including the political security, the national security and security departments in provinces to arrest the opposition members. In addition, the ministry announced a reward of 3 million Yemeni rials (around $13,842) for information about or leading to the arrest of any of the suspects.

Last month, the opposition accused President Ali Abdullah Saleh of allowing al-Qaida militants to seize Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan province. The JMP said in a statement that Saleh government was behind arming the militants in Zinjibar.

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

Since the months of February and March, violent clashes between anti-government movements and security forces began as part of wide-range uprisings in the Middle East since the beginning of the year.

In Yemen, protesters have continually demanded the resignation of government leaders and President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has ruled the country for 21 years. Tens of thousands of Yemenis have participated throughout the year, and on March 18, security forces opened fire against protesters in Sanaa, killing at least 52 people.

Violence has continued escalating after Saleh threatened with civil war after refusing, for the third time, to sign a power transfer deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council on May 22.

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