---- Original Message ---- From: soula avramidis To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, July 22, 2005 3:21 AM Subject: [PEN-L] second day protests in Yemen spreading
> 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. More: Via FeedDirect's Yemen 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. <...> Violence first spread through cities in Yemen on Wednesday, resulting in deaths and injuries, as protestors vented their anger over price increases imposed on fuel and gas. In spite of stringent security precautions in the form of armed military units, thousands took over the streets, main intersections and most entrances to the city of Sana'a. The protests turned violent Wednesday when crowds in the capital's areas of Tahrir, Al-Hasaba, Hayl, and Taiz Street began to smash advertising hoardings and block roads with uprooted trees and bushes, and burnt tires. Several banks, private companies, shops, showrooms and private buildings were attacked, as well as government institutions. Hundreds of security force units were dispatched to the scenes and responded by firing warning shots into the air and using tear gas to disperse the protestors. Crowds then turned on the police and military with sticks and rocks. <more> http://www.yobserver.com/news_7548.php Leigh www.leighm.net
