Renewed violence in Yemen leaves 10 dead

[News_Editor]

Renewed violence in Yemen leaves 10 dead

2011-11-03 07:32:37 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANAA (BNO NEWS) -- At least ten opposition members were killed on Wednesday and dozens more were injured during clashes with troops loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the southern Yemeni province of Taiz.

According to medics, the deaths occurred after a large contingent of government troops appeared on the streets. At least ten people were killed and 38 others were injured when the clashes erupted, CNN reported.

Reports said that opposition tribal leader Abdullah al-Sabri was killed by government troops, but a Yemeni Interior Ministry official denied the claim, blaming the shooting of the tribal leader on opposition fighters.

Yemen is one of a handful of countries across North Africa and the Middle East where large numbers of civilians have risen up this year to call for greater democracy and freedoms. But violence in the country has continued to escalate after President Saleh threatened with civil war after refusing, for a third time, to sign the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative for power transition on May 22.

Yemeni security forces and thugs loyal to the regime have used live bullets, batons and tear gas against peaceful protesters across the country. In Taiz, pro-Saleh forces have randomly shelled residential areas in the city.

The uprising against President Saleh has claimed at least 1,500 lives since February.

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