One Killed, Four Wounded in Aden clash

One Killed, Four Wounded in Aden clash

ADEN Feb 21, (Reuters) - A Yemeni teenager was killed and four people were wounded in a clash with soldiers in the southern port of Aden on Monday, witnesses said.

They said soldiers opened fire at the youths who were throwing stones at their military patrol in the city's Khormaksar district. The death brings to 12 the number of people killed in unrest in Yemen since Thursday. Protesters, inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, have called for the end of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule.

Yemen hands down death sentences to 11 bandits

Yemen hands down death sentences to 11 bandits

Fuad Rajeh

MUKALLA, Feb 21, 2011– The Specialized Penal Court in Hadramout on Monday handed down death sentences to 11 Yemeni people and a 10-year jail term to another one.

The verdict came after the group had been convicted of forming an armed group to commit banditry, loot and attack public and private money transport vehicles and launch attacks against oil, gas and trade companies.

Furthermore, the court acquitted another member for lack of evidence, as it committed the convicts to return a car they had previously attacked and looted machines and other properties inside.

The convicts were also ordered to pay $ 50400 in compensations for the owner of the car, al Hashidi Company, and $ 2500 for lawyers.

In addition, the court ruled to confiscate two cars and weapons the group used in committing crimes.

The group members were arrested in October 2009.

Saleh orders to evacuate Yemenis in Libya

Saleh orders to evacuate Yemenis in Libya

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

SANA'A- Feb 21, 2011, President Ali Abdullah Saleh ordered on Monday Yemenia Airways to allocate flights to carry the Yemeni people in Libya back home as the north African country is being hit by violence and anti-government protests.

Houthi Rebels Join Anti-State Protests in Yemen

Houthi Rebels Join Anti-State Protests in Yemen

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sa'ada- February 21, 2011, Tens of thousands of supporters of the Shiite Houthi rebel group protested Monday in the north Yemen city of Sa'ada to demand the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's government, a tribal leader said.

Protesters called for the toppling of Saleh's regime and chanted support for demonstrations in the capital, Sana'a and in the southern city of Aden, where 12 people have been killed in anti-government protests since Feb. 16, officials said.

"Tens of thousands protested today, as called for by Houthi rebel chief, Abdul Malik Al-Houthi and opposition MPs, lawmakers," the tribal leader told media outlets.

Sa'ada is the stronghold of the Zaidi Shiite rebels, who from 2004 fought six wars with Saleh's government before signing a peace treaty with the government in 2010.

President: Power can be reached democratically through voting

President: Power can be reached democratically through voting

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sana'a- Feb 21, 2011, President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Monday that whoever wants to reach power has to behave democratically through the ballot boxes either in the parliamentary or presidential elections away from chaos.

In a press conference in Sana'a today, he said that "the Yemeni people is a great nation and can differentiate between what is good and bad," adding "those people are copying others and the more concessions we provide, the more demands they ask for."

We ask those to come to dialogue table to make understanding clear, he said.

Saleh pointed out that the freedom of opinion is guaranteed by peaceful and democratic means and those who demand the regime to leave, they should go for voting boxes and respect the will of the Yemeni people as power is a responsibility and not a merit.

The president said that "we provided a package of reforms but the JMP, in particular, increased the ceiling of their demand to topple the regime which is unacceptable."

He thanked security systems for stopping clashes between the opponents and supports of the government, noting that they have strict directives not to use violence except in case of self protection.

The president expressed sorrow for what happened in Aden by some rioters who cased harm to state and private properties.

Thousands of Protesters Take to the Streets against Saleh's Regime

Thousands of Protesters Take to the Streets against Saleh's Regime

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sana'a- Feb 21, 2011, Thousands of protesters gathered outside the gates of Sana’a University on Monday for an 11th day of demonstrations calling for an end to President Saleh's regime, as well as in the southern provinces of Taiz and Aden.

Protesters in which most of them belonging to the opposition parties, the Joint Meeting Parties, JMP, formed checkpoints around the demonstrations to prevent weapons from entering.

Yemen’s Shiite Houthi rebel group held a demonstration in Sa'ada province demanding the fall of Saleh's regime. The protest was headed by Abdul Malik Al-Houthi, the leader of Houthi group.

Saleh yesterday offered to open talks with the opposition as thousands of protesters gathered in the capital insisting on an immediate end to his three-decade rule. He said the government is willing to listen to “legitimate” demands and that political change should come though the ballot box and not protests.

Yemen’s main opposition coalition rejected Saleh’s offer for dialogue, saying it won’t hold talks as long as security forces are attacking protesters. At least five people have been killed in 11 days of protests inspired by the popular uprisings that overthrew the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt.