State of Emergency in Yemen as 35 Protesters Shot Dead

World | March 18, 2011, Friday // 17:23|  views

Yemeni anti-government protesters carry an injured protester following clashes with security forces in Sana'a, Yemen, on 18 March 2011. EPA/BGNES

Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh has declared a state of emergency after soldiers and government loyalists shot dead at least 35 anti-regime protesters on Friday.

Hundreds of others have been wounded in the clashes between security forces and demonstrators in Sanaa, and the death toll is expected to rise.

Friday's protest demanding the resignation of Yemen's President Saleh started peacefully with tens of thousands gathering outside Sanaa University for a prayer ceremony mourning the loss of seven protesters killed in similar violence last weekend, international media reported.

The first shots were fired by security forces trying to disperse the protesters; subsequently, regime loyalists joined them by firing into the crowd with AK-47s.

Yemen's government forces have usually used water, tear gas, and rubber bullets against anti-regime demonstrations, which have been going on for a couple of months inspired by the successful revolutions in other Arab countries, namely Tunisia and Egypt.

Friday's violence is expected to signal the start of a bloody crackdown on the protest movement, according to analysts.

Ali Abdullah Saleh has been the President of Yemen for more than 30 years; his only concession so far has been to declare he will not seek a new term once his new term expires in 2013.

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Tags: Yemen, protesters, civil unrest, Ali Abdullah Saleh, Arab world

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