Yemeni Forces Injure at Least 30 After Firing on Protestors

AFP/Getty Images
Bryan Hood 80 Views Apr 17, 2011

Yemeni forces wounded at least 30 protestors after firing on them with live ammunition and tear gas earlier today, reports the BBC. The protestors were marching through the street of Sanaa calling for embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

Hundreds of thousands, including many women incensed at Saleh's comments last week that their behavior was against Islam, took part in today's protests. The protestors were fired upon after they marched out of the protest zone. "We neared the Sanaa Trade Center when police confronted us with tear gas, and suddenly opened heavy gunfire on us from all directions," Sabry Mohammed, a protester, told Reuters. "A state of terror set in among the demonstrators, and some of them fled into side streets."  The injured protesters were rushed to hospitals.  

In protests that date back to January, more than 100 have been killed. Saleh, who has been in power for more than three decades, has said he is willing to transfer power, but only to "safe hands."

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at bhood323 at yahoo dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.

Topics:
Related Articles   More by Bryan Hood

Who Tried to Assassinate Yemen's President?

Al Qaeda Claims Credit for Massive Suicide Attack in Yemen

Mediation Efforts in Libya and Yemen Draw Skeptical Response

 

Six Togolese Soccer Players Die in Bus Crash

Syria Facing Arab League Sanctions

Elsewhere on the Web

User Comments

Please type your comment and click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be prompted to log in or register

  • The Atlantic Wire on Twitter
  • The Atlantic Wire RSS Feed
  • The Atlantic Wire iPhone App