soula avramidis: > http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F3093C71-2DC0-4D94-A8B7-0DC75975861D.htm > The Yemeni government has vowed to maintain its oil price rise > despite the deaths of at least 36 people during two days of protests > across the country. > The protests in the capital, Sanaa, have spread to Aden, Hedida and > other cities. > > On Friday morning, protests had calmed in the capital and at least > six other towns, but there were fears they would resume later in the > day. > > Army tanks, which were called in to reinforce the police, were seen > stationed around government buildings, while tight security measures > were also visible around the residences of high-ranking officials.
Local "color" via FeedDirect's Yemen news feed @ leighm.net: Yemen Observer reporters entered several neighborhoods of Sana'a during the demonstrations and interviewed some of those who had risked leaving their homes and workplaces. Onlooker Abdul-Rahman Khalid said: "I am very disappointed that what should have been peaceful protests turned violent. But I also think that the military and police response was excessive and uncalled for." Nobody escaped blame as temperatures ran high among the crowds over the government's decision to radically increase fuel prices as of July 20. Ahmed Al-Amri, a traffic police officer who was on duty in Taiz Street at the height of the protests, described the scenes he witnessed on Wednesday as "unbelievable": "The way rioters attacked local residents' property, like cars, shops and public interests was extreme. Similarly, the response of the police was harsh. The situation was out of control." Clothes shop owner, Shaker Yahya Mohammed, said, "The decision of the government will be a fatal blow to all citizens. It will exacerbate corruption." Shaker said that opposition parties should reject the decision and that the government should resign if it cannot shoulder its responsibility. Hani Abdullah and many people were taking aside. He said that he can't participate in such demonstration since it turns into violence and some of the rioters starts firing at police. "This is not the way civilized people do," he said. <more> http://www.yobserver.com/news_7548.php Leigh www.leighm.net
