Tens of demonstrators injured in clashes in Yemen's Taiz

Sana'a, Apr 16, 2011- Tens of people were injured Friday in separate clashes between pro and anti-government demonstrators in Yemen's southern province of Taiz.
Mohamed al-Alimy, a parliament member of the ruling General People's Congress party (GPC), along with five of his escorts and about 10 government backers, were wounded in clashes which erupted after anti-government protesters intercepted their convoy in downtown Taiz, a local councilman told Xinhua.
In a separate incident, 30 pro-government demonstrators were wounded Friday, including a child whose injury was critical, when they were attacked by their rival protesters in Taiz city, official Saba news agency reported.
"Elements of the opposition Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) also smashed over 20 cars belonging to the pro-government demonstrators, " said Saba. Meanwhile, a key media outlet of the opposition JMP said at least 10 anti-government protesters were injured by gunshots from members of the GPC party on Friday in Taiz. Two of them were in critical conditions.
Taiz, some 200 km southwest to the capital Sana'a, is Yemen's third largest city. It has witnessed a deadly tension between pro and anti-government demonstrators that left dozens of people killed and many others injured since the start of the protest waves in mid February to press an immediate end to the 33-year rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.