Security committee removes military presence from Yemen Capital

By Mohammed al-Kibsi

Security committee in charge of implementing truce and removing military presence from Sana’a streets succeeded in removing military presence from the confronting sites at al-Qa’a, Zira’ah Street and other neighborhoods surrounding Sana’a University where heavy confrontations took place between the security forces loyal to President Saleh and between defected army backed by Islah party militants and protesters, said a security source.

The source said that the committee could remove all military presence and that normal life came back to the neighborhood of al-Qa’a and other neighborhoods near Sana’a University.

Eyewitnesses said they seen bulldozers removing trenches that were erected by both rival forces in al-Qa’a and near the Kentucky intersection down town in Sana’a on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.   

 Fierce confrontations broke out after midnight and continued to the early hours of Thursday between the security forces and militants affiliated to Sheikh Hamid al-Ahmar and to Islah party in al-Hasaba neighborhood.

Eyewitnesses said that the confrontations were between tribesmen affiliated to Shiekh Saqir Bin Aziz of Harf Suffian tribes and between tribesmen affiliated to Sheikh al-Ahmar.

Harf Suffian tribes that is part of the Bakil tribe has a long history of fighting and revenge with Osaimat tribe that belongs to Hashid tribe.

No immediate reports about casualties have been reported yet, however ambulances were seen coming back from al-Hasaba heading to Al-Thawrah hospital carrying wounded policemen and civilians.

Heavy machineguns, mortars, low missiles and riffles were used in the confrontations.

Sheikh Yahya al-Habbary member of the Shura Council ‘Senate’ escaped an assassination attempt allegedly perpetrated by militants affiliated to Sheikh al-Ahmar in al-Hasaba area the day before.

Also the ruling party accused the militants of Islah party and of the defected army of shelling houses of four leaderships of the party, Yesterday, in al-Hasaba and northern parts of Sana’a.    

For their part the Joint Meeting Opposition Parties accused the security forces of shelling the house of member of the Parliament from Islah party Sheikh Mohammed al-Hazmi in the west of Sana’a the day before.

Source: Yemen Observer