Defense Council expresses regret over university developments

SANA'A, March 18 (Saba) – President Ali Abdullah Saleh chaired on Friday the meeting of the National Defense Council and government leaders that discussed the regrettable developments at Sana'a University in Yemen's capital on Friday.

The Council heard the report of Interior Minister which said that a number of the sit-inners outside the university moved after the Friday inciting sermon to nearby inhabited areas destroying cement barriers and breaking into some houses.

The sit-inners looted and burned houses and also threw a citizen from over his house and then deadly clashes between them and the people took place in which live bullets, sticks and rocks were used, the report said. The riot police tried to take control of the situation without weapons but they could not, added the report.

The Council expressed regret over the victims and approved to form a panel to investigate the incidents comprising of Justice and Human Rights Ministers, Chief Prosecutor and the State General Lawyer and three other members from the Joint Meeting Parties, the opposition coalition.

Furthermore, the Council ordered to list those who were dead as martyrs and to treat the injured.

Because of the current situation and to preserve the public security and the national unity and protect the private and public properties, the Council declared a state of emergency for 30 days.

Other issues on the agenda were discussed as well.