Two Protesters Killed and Several others Wounded in Sana'a

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sana'a, Apr 19, 2011- At least two people were killed and hundreds others wounded on Tuesday when Yemen's security forces fired live ammunition towards anti-government protesters in Sana'a province.

Sources said that anti-government protesters marched on Tuesday in a huge demonstration in the center of Yemen's capital, Sana'a, demanding the resignation of embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime when they were attacked by security forces and plainclothes men, who opened fired on them killing at least one and wounding several others.

Witnesses within the scene told Al-Jazeera channel that the protesters were attacked by police men who fired live bullets and tear gas.

Governmental media state said that the protesters tried to enter the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry in which police men tried to stop them.

Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council plans to discuss the unrest in Yemen for the first time since the protests began. Tuesday's meeting on Yemen was proposed by Germany's ambassador, and diplomats say the meeting will send a political signal that the unrest is of growing concern to the international community.

Also, a high-level delegation from Yemen's ruling party is set to meet Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates with mediators from the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Opposition leaders met Council foreign ministers in Saudi Arabia Sunday without any breakthrough.

Violence between pro-Saleh forces and opposition activists has killed more than 116 people since protests began in late January.

One Anti-Saleh Protester Killed in Southern Province of Taiz

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sana'a, Apr 19, 2011- At least one protester was killed when security forces shot dead an anti-Saleh porter in southern province of Taiz.

Sources said that a huge rally staged to the streets in Taiz demanding the embattled Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

Medical source confirmed that Talet Abdullah Khaleb was shot dead by security forces in his liver in which he died immediately.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been facing nationwide protests in all Yemen's province call for him to step down.

Abdo Rabu Mansur Hadi to be next Yemen President

Dr Jassim Taqui in Riyadh

The crisis in Yemen is heading towards a resolution in compliance with the GCC initiative, which has two main features. First, it calls for the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to hand over power to his vice president Abdo Rabu Mansur Hadi. Second, a national unity government should be formed and headed by the Opposition. This would be a transition government whose task is to holding free and fair elections and handing over power to the elected representatives of the people of Yemen.

In this regard, delegations of the Yemeni government and opposition attended a reconciliation meeting at the headquarter of GCC in Riyadh. The meeting was chaired by Foreign Minister of UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Those who attended the meeting from the government were Mr. Abdo Rabu Mansur Hadi, Advisor of Yemeni President Mr. Abdulkarim Al- Eryani and Deputy Prime Minister for Local Administrative Affairs Mr. Sadik Ameen Abu Ras.

The Opposition was represented by its President Mr. Yaseen Saeed Noman, Mr. Salim Basindwa, chief of the preparation committee for the national dialogue, Secretary General for the Islamic Islah Party Mr. Abdulwahab Al Anisy and Secretary General of Al Haq Party Mr. Hassan Zaid.

Both sides emphasized the peaceful solution to the current crisis in Yemen and expressed adherence to the GCC initiative. They also expressed their respect to the principle of freedom of expression and not to use violence against peaceful and legitimate demands of the people of Yemen and their right to claim freedom, reform, development, democratic change and social justice. Difference, however, remain on the modalities of transfer of power and the time-frame for the stepping down of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who insists that power should be transformed to “ safe hands”. The Opposition, on the other hand wants that President to step down next Friday. The two sides agreed to continue dialogue but did not specify the date of the next round.

It is reliably learnt that the GCC promised to offer Yemen a Marshal Plan for overcoming its economic crisis once the power is transferred peacefully and the turmoil is ended. The GCC is also seriously thinking of admitting Yemen as the seventh member in the Gulf Cooperation Council when peace and stability returned to Yemen.

The GCC urged both sides to resolve their differences very quickly. It promised that the GCC members would invest in Yemen immediately after the transitional phase in order to help Yemen overcome unemployment and economic and social explosions.

The GCC initiative aims at saving Yemen from regression and deterioration during the transitional period and enable it to turn to real democratic environment.

Yemen added to Security Council agenda

19 April 2011

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will on Tuesday discuss for the first time the mounting crisis in Yemen where the opposition has stepped up demands that President Ali Abdullah Saleh give up power, diplomats said.

The 15-nation Security Council's first formal meeting on Yemen will start at 1900 GMT on Tuesday, following a proposition by Germany, diplomats said.

"It is a sign of the growing attention that Yemen is attracting after Egypt, Tunisia and Libya," said a UN diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. The meeting which will be briefed by a top UN political affairs official.

Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers will also meet a Sanaa government delegation in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to discuss an initiative to end the standoff.

Protesters have been demanding since January that Saleh end his three decade rule. More than 125 people have been killed in the protests.

In the latest demonstrations on Monday, residents took to the streets in the Red Sea city of Al-Hudaydah to protest against the use of force by security forces who attacked demonstrators in the capital Sanaa on Sunday with firearms and tear gas, wounding 30 people, a medical source said.