Restive Yemeni region fires security chief

By AHMED AL-HAJ

January 8, 2012

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — A top official in Yemen's Taiz region says the regional council has fired the region's security chief, another blow to embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Council head Hamoud al-Sufi says the body voted to remove Brig. Gen. Abdullah Qairan after reviewing the province's security situation. Qairan commanded security during some the bloodiest crackdowns on anti-regime demonstrations.

Taiz has been a hotbed of protests during the 11-month popular uprising seeking to oust Saleh. Security forces have killed dozens of protesters there.

Qairan is one of a number of pro-Saleh leaders to lose their posts in recent weeks under mounting protests targeting those seen as corrupt.

Saleh signed a power transfer agreement but remains in office.