Yemen Wants WHO Experts to Investigate Claims of Protest Poisonous Gas

Sana'a , Mar 13, 2011- Yemen called on the World Health Organization to send experts to it to investigate the claims by the physicians outside Sana’a University where tens of thousands have been conducting a sit-in that the security forces had fired nerve or prohibited gas at the protesters.

The request was submitted to the representative of the WHO in Sana’a Ghulam Rabani who should deliver that to the WHO regional director.

Yemen said the organization should send experts in forensics and poisons and smoke grenades which the government says were fired at the protesters.

The request came after hospitals and medical sources within the sit-inners said the security forces had fired nerve gas at the protesters leaving them suffer from cramp and brain hemorrhage.

Hundreds were injured when the security forces fired nerve gas at the protesters and others killed when live bullets were fired as the government is intensifying the crackdown on the spreading unrest demanding the departure of President Saleh.

Source: Yemen Post

Protesters Burn Police Station in Aden

Aden, Mar 13, 2011- Antigovernment protesters burned on Sunday a police station in Yemen’s business capital Aden in what appeared to be retaliation for the deadly crackdown on the protests demanding the ouster of the regime.
Media outlets said their correspondents in the city saw the protesters breaking into the police station in Dar Saad district with arms and then burning it. They also set fire to police cars at the station, the outlets added.
The death toll from the attack on the protests in the district on Saturday rose today to four people and the incident triggered the resignation of four of the local council members there.
The local officials said their resignations were tendered in protest against the crackdown against the anti-government protests in which some were killed and more than a dozen injured.
In Sana’a where scores were injured today when the security forces continued to fire live ammunition and nerve gas at the sit-inners outside Sana’a University, a military source denied the forces had attacked the protesters.
Yemen News Agency Saba cited the source as saying that allegations that the security forces attack the sit-inners have become easy gossip repeated by media, and especially those owned by the opposition parties.
The reports that the security forces attack the protesters remain untrue because any forces deployed to the university go there to preserve the public security and prevent violence, the source said.
Source: Yemen Post

Cabinet reshuffle in Yemen

SANA’A, March 13, 2011- A Presidential decree No. (64) for 2011 was issued on Sunday to make a government reshuffle in the cabinet of Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar.

According to its 1st article, the decree named Hamoud Mohammad Abad Endowments and Guidance Minister and Aref Awad al-zoka Youth and Sports Minister.

Source: (Saba)

Yemen denies reservations about UNSC no-fly zone over Libya

CAIRO, March 13, 2011- Minister of Foreign Affairs Abu Bakr al-Qirbi has denied news broadcasted by the Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel over reservation of Yemen about decision of the Arab League to call the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.

He affirmed, in a statement to Saba, that "these news are baseless and Yemen is in favor of the Arab consensus."

The minister made clear that reservation was raised by Syria and Algeria who do not want such a decision to lead to a western military interference.

Source: (Saba)

Ongoing Situation in Yemen

Press Statement

Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs

Washington, DC

March 13, 2011

The United States is deeply concerned by continuing reports of deaths and injuries at demonstrations throughout Yemen in the past week. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives. People everywhere share the same universal rights to demonstrate peacefully and to freely assemble and express themselves. Violence must cease immediately. We call on the Yemeni government to quickly investigate these incidents and take all necessary steps to protect the rights of all its citizens in accordance with President Saleh’s commitments.

The current political impasse will be solved only when all parties engage in a process of peaceful negotiation and dialogue. We reiterate our call for a commitment by all sides to participate in an open and transparent process that addresses the legitimate concerns of all Yemeni people and provides an orderly path to a nation that is more responsive to the political and economic aspirations of the people. We believe this is the best approach to advance the interests of the Yemeni people.

Government Wants To Bring Back Malaysian In Yemen

KOTA KINABALU, March 13, 2011- The government wants to bring back 443 Malaysians who are in Sanaa and Eden in Yemen following the turmoil in the country worsening, said Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman.

He said the government was following closely developments in Yemen and that his ministry had submitted a report to the government on what needed to be done.

"We will bring Malaysians in Sanaa and Eden home directly because the situation in the two cities has become worrying, However, the security situation in other areas in Yemen are still under control," he told reporters here Sunday.

Meanwhile, Anifah said as of 1.30pm today (Malaysian time), Malaysia's embassy in Tokyo had been able to contact 544 Malaysians living in the worst hit areas of Japan's twin earthquake and tsunami disaster and that all of them were safe.

He said they were reported to have been moved to safety shelters by the Japanese authorities. He said 298 Malaysian students living in the same areas were also reported to be safe and that the goverment had no plans to bring them home for now.

He added that a total of 5,009 Malaysians were registered with the embassy of whom 2,100 were students.

Source- BERNAMA

110 injured in Sana'a and Security Shoot Live Bullets

Sana'a, Mar 13, 2011- Security forces opened fire and used tear gas to disperse anti government protesters in Sana'a Sunday afternoon. Ten of the injured were because of direct gun shots, while at least one hundred because of inhaling tear gas.

Protesters claim that the reason behind the attack was because security did not allow protesters to enter the square of the protest, and harassing protesters as they leave the area.

Governmental followers with the help of security forces have made road blocks 500 meters away from the area of the anti government protesters Change Square at Sana’a University, therefore, not allowing thousands to enter the area.

According to governmental sources, anti government protesters are causing problems for residents living in the Sana’a University area, and locals were fed up with all the road blocks and were demanding that the protesters find a different location to protest.

The number of injuries is expected to rise.

Source: Yemen Post