Yemeni President Issues Defiant TV Message

The President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, refuses to step down after a 32-year rule of the most impoverished Arab country, despite promises made in April. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, remains defiant in the aftermath of tumultuous civil unrest in his country.

In a brief message, aired on TV hours after he was injured in an attack on his compound in the capital Saana, Saleh said he was well and urged the army to keep confronting his tribal opponents.

"I salute our armed forces and the security forces for standing up firmly to confront this challenge by an outlaw gang that has nothing to do with the so-called youth revolution. Seven officers were martyred. We will follow these culprits sooner or later in co-operation with all security services," the President declared.

The Friday attack came amid violent demonstrations and clashes, lasting for over a week now, between the government and armed tribes. Seven people were killed. Saleh received treatment in a military hospital, after at least two shells hit a mosque in the presidential compound. The extent of his injuries is unclear, although various reports say he received scratches, or was hit by shrapnel in the head or neck, BBC writes Saturday.

The prime minister and the speaker of parliament are said to be among the injured. According to Al-Arabiya TV, cited by BBC, the speaker of parliament Yahya al-Rai is in a critical condition.

Earlier, troops opened fire at the home of the brother of tribal leader Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, the head of the powerful Hashid tribal confederation, who has joined the opposition. Sheikh Ahmar's office denied responsibility for the palace attack.

The EU Foreign Policy Chief, Catherine Ashton, announced the Union has set in motion a procedure to evacuate its citizens. On Friday, Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry appealed to all Bulgarian citizens to urgently leave Yemen.

France and the United States called for an immediate ceasefire.

More than 350 people have been killed since the uprising started in January, but at least 135 of them have died in the past 10 days.

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