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| Yemen: Severe Explosions Rock the Capital After UN Resolution |
| 2011-10-23 |
| [Yemen Post] As soon as the Media announced the adoption of a UN resolution on Yemen, the regime immediately resumed its shelling campaign on Hasaba, a stronghold of Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar, Saleh's main tribal and political opponent, proving to many of his detractors that he never had any intention of stepping down from the presidency. As loud kabooms were heard across several northern districts of the capital, protesters in the Square also suffered Saleh's wrath as the latter unleashed his elite units, the Elite Republican Guards, onto unarmed protesters. As fighst raged all through the night between troops loyal to Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar and the government forces, news licked that the rustics were gaining ground against Saleh, many eye-witnesses confirming that the Elite Republican Guards bodies were piling up in Hasaba, while the tribe had only lost 5 of its men. Defected General Mohsen's military base north of Sana'a was also under attack as Saleh's loyalists started pounding the base with mortar shells and RPGs. After a brief respite at dawn, festivities resumed in new areas of the capital, leading residents to fear that an all-out war in only hours away. In al-Jeraf, an area situated between al-Hasaba and Sana'a International Airport, might kabooms were reported by residents, as eye-witnesses added that tunnels of smoke were seen hovering over the area. Checkpoints throughout the capital have seen an increase in security as soldiers in full gear are carefully checking cars and passengers, preventing any weapons from being smuggled into the "conflict zone". Members of the Opposition have asked the international community to bear witness of this new bout of violence, stressing that Saleh was looking for war. |
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| Arabia |
| Cease Fire in Yemen Capital |
| 2011-10-19 |
| [Yemen Post] In statement issued to the press the Information Committee for the Army of the Revolution announced this evening that it had reached a truce with the government, as both parties agreed to stop the bloodshed in Hasaba district of the capital. For the past 4 consecutive days, Hasaba had been subjected to intense bombings from the government forces as president Saleh is believed to want to destroy Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar defenses in this northern district of the capital to better re-assert his hold over the capital. On another related matter, sources within the Defense Minister announced that the government has ordered defected General Mohsen Ali Mohsen to withdraw all his troops, without exception, from the capital, Sana'a, adding that the 1st Armored Division should retreat some 200 kilometers away or war would ensue. |
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| Arabia |
| Face Off: Saleh's Troops Battles General Mohsen |
| 2011-10-18 |
| [Yemen Post] After a few hours of respite following yesterday's demonstrations and festivities, more violence broke out in around midnight, across several districts of the capital, Sana'a. Residents reported that unlike in their attack of the demonstrators where mostly guns and machine guns had been involved, the regime used its heavy artillery against General Mohsen's dissidents' troops. "I was wake up by loud kabooms, it sounded like shelling...something big anyway", said a woman near Beit Buss who added that she was worry the fight would spread throughout the rest of Sana'a. At "Change Square" where the government troops started to target the encampment with RPG's and mortar shells, protesters hurried to nearby buildings, desperate to find a better suited shelter than a simple tent. So far medical sources reported that an estimated 3 people were killed on the University ground itself and another 6 were severely injured as a mortar shell landed near their house. In Hasaba, Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar's stronghold, more shelling and intense fighting resumed as rustics opposed to the regime defended their leader's territories, not giving out an inch. In and around the University, defected General Mohsen's troops were enthralled in a fight against the Elite Republican Guards, now dubbed the "Family Guards", as their Head is none other than president Saleh's eldest son, Ahmed Ali. After a short break during Fajr prayer at dawn, the 2 opposing parties continued their fight for control, leaving residents fearful of what the future might bring. |
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| Arabia |
| Yemen, The Violence Resumes |
| 2011-10-01 |
| [Yemen Post] Only a few days after Foreign Minister al-Qirby declared to the United Nations ...aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society... General Assembly that his government was committed to peace and to a timely transition of power, President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower... , ordered the shelling of several revolutionaries' strongholds in the capital, Sana'a. At dawn this Thursday, residents of Hasaba, a northern district of the capital under the control of the powerful tribal leader, Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar, reported heavy kabooms. Eye witnesses said they saw "a rain of mortar shells" strike the area, bringing more misery to an already strained population. Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar, who so far was determined not to retaliate at the many provocations of the government, respecting the terms of Saudi brokered ceasefire back in June, decided that this morning attack was the last straw. He ordered his men to fight back, unwilling to stand idly while innocent civilians were being targeted by what he calls "the government's thugs". "Change Square" which has been the gathering point of the revolution since February, fell also victim to the government' shelling campaign, putting an end to the last few days of relative peace. Defected GeneralAli Mohsen al-Ahmar's was also targeted as Elite Republican Guards under the order of president Saleh's eldest son, Ahmed Ali, attacked his men and his base north of the capital. Once again it seems that politicians have failed to come up with a viable solution to the country's crisis, unable to ink the GCC brokered proposal. |
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| Arabia |
| Regime attacks Dissidents Troops |
| 2011-09-25 |
| [Yemen Post] Not 24 hours have passed that already president Saleh is backing up on its promises of peaceful negotiations. Since the embattled president sneaked back into the country, he has neither been seen nor heard. Although his loyalists demonstrated their joy by lighting up the night sky with fire-works, many waited in vain for his speech, wondering even if he was truly in Sana'a. His army however made itself heard last night as it continued its pounding of "Change Square" at the University and its attack on defected General Ali Mohsen's military base, north of the capital, Sana'a. Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar, the powerful tribal leader of the Hasheed confederation of tribes and main opponent to the regime also ensued Saleh's wrath as the latter order his troops to unleash their heavy artilleries onto the district of Hasaba. As the hours of the night went by to the rhythm of heavy fighting ... as opposed to the more usual light or sporadic fighting... , more civilians were being brought to the already overflowed hospitals, bearing horrific injuries. Residents in al-Zubeyri this morning reported fierce street battles as Elite Republican Guards were scrambling to regain control of the area. Hospitals it seems were also being targeted by the regime, with medical staffs accusing snipers of targeting ambulances and staffs as they were helping the injured.So far an additional 19 people have died, bringing the corpse count to sickening new high of over 130 in less than a week.Entire areas of the capital have had their cellular communications completely cut off as well as the electricity. The National Council for the Yemeni Revolution is calling today for more demonstrations as it said to be determined not to let fear prevent them from achieving their goal. |
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| Arabia |
| Yemen: The Tribes Enter the Fight |
| 2011-09-24 |
| [Yemen Post] Residents in Hasaba this Thursday reported violent festivities between rustics loyal to Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar and followers of Sheikh Saghir bin Aziz. Hasaba, a northern district of the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, is one of al-Ahmar's tribe main strongholds and has been on several occasions the scene of heavy shelling as the government tried to dislodge the tribal dissidents. Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar, who is Yemen's most influential tribal leader, and supreme commander of the powerful Hasheed confederation of tribes, vowed in March to defend the revolutionaries and to bring down the regime. Since then, the regime has declared war on Yemen's "blue blood" family, shelling their houses, targeting their businesses, accusing them of collaboration with terror elements within the country and so on... Under attack today, Sheikh al-Ahmar retaliated by mortar rounds, machine guns shots and RPGs attacks, forcing back Saghir bin Aziz's men. Hemyar al-Ahmar, the Sheikh's younger brother and deputy parliament speaker, flew to his brother's aid, throwing his own men onto the midst of the battle. With every passing day, more districts of the capital are swallowed by violence, leaving many to fear that no home or family will be spared. |
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| Arabia |
| Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar Denies Evacuation on Order on Hasaba |
| 2011-09-06 |
| [Yemen Post] Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar, who is Yemen's most powerful and influential tribal leader as well as president Saleh's nemesis, denied government claims yesterday that he had ordered the evacuation of the Hasaba district in Sana'a, the capital. Hasaba is one of the al-Ahmar's loyalists' main strongholds in the capital. When the Sheikh first announced his support of the revolution, president Saleh immediately retaliated by shelling the neighborhood, hoping to crush the growing dissident movement in its nest. As a result hundreds of families had to leave the area, fearful for their lives. Ever since, Hasaba has been the scene of sporadic armed festivities despite an agreed truce between the Hasheed tribe, led by the Sheikh and the regime. Yesterday, a government front man accused Sheikh Sadeeq of pushing the country towards a civil war, presenting as proof his alleged "evacuation plan" of Hasaba. According to the regime, Sheikh Sadeeq wanted to clear the area of all civilians, leaving him free to position more of his men. The Sheikh went on saying that such fallacy was merely an attempt by the regime to deflect the public's attention from the fact that the Opposition had unveiled its plan to assassinate some well-known opposition leaders. He also warned against state propaganda, urging the press and media to be wary of all "news" coming from the government since it was clearly on a "lying spree". The Sheikh closed his statement by declaring that "his brave loyalists" would not stand idly while Saleh's regime is irresponsibly putting civilians in harm's way. |
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