Battles broke out in Yemen capital

By Mohammed al-Kibsi

Battles broke out between security forces and between defected army backed by militias of Islah Islamist party and militias affiliated to Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar in different parts of Sana’a city on Saturday.

The ministry of interior said that defected General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar along with Islamic militias and militias of Sheikh al-Ahmar sons organized unlicensed demonstrations on some of Sana’a streets that coincided with bombarding some neighborhoods of Sana’a.

The security source said that the troopers of the First Armor Division commanded by General Ali Mohsen deployed snipers on top of buildings located on Zubairi street where they killed a number of civilians and that the defected troopers killed a police man and damaged three police vehicles.

The source added that defected army captured the house of former General Hasan al-Amri and al-Furat school on Zira’a street where they deployed tanks and troopers.

Late Hasan al-Amri used to be Yemen’s prime minister and commander during the 70 days besiege of Sana’a in 1967.

Elsewhere the source said that the defected army and militias shelled the house of the EX prime minister  Faraj Ben Ghanim in Sofan neighborhood, killing one of his relatives called Amer Ben Ghanim.

The source added that they also shelled the house of EX prime minister Abdul-Qadir Bajamal in the same neighborhood.

Moreover they shelled the house of son of Ambassador Abdulmalik al-Taib, killing one of his daughters and wounding several others.

They also shelled two houses in the Old City of Sana’a causing some damage to the tow houses, said the statement issued by ministry of interior.

In al-Hasaba neighborhood the defected army and al-Ahmar militias shelled the police camp killing a policeman and wounding seven others.

Reporters quoted a medic as saying that Yemeni security forces opened fire on anti-government protesters Saturday, killing 10 and wounding 38 others.

CNN reporter quoted Mohammed Al-Qubati, who was at the scene of the protests in Sanaa's Change Square as saying forces opened fire to disperse demonstrators who planned to march to the city center from the square.

Eyewitnesses said that protesters marched on Zubairi street and 60 St. backed by defected army and militias that were firing at policemen from the back of the protesters.

An eyewitness said that a massacre happened on 60 St. in exchange of fire between the defected army and the security forces.

Mortar shells missiles, heavy explosions and heavy machineguns were heard since 9 am till 7:30 from areas in the west and other areas in the north of Sana’a city.