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More Than 50 Killed as Yemeni Clashes Continue

VOA News May 26, 2011

Heavy clashes between Yemeni government forces and opposition supporters continued Thursday, killing more than 50 people in less than 24 hours and threatening to plunge the country into civil war.

The fight led by Yemen's Hashid tribe - the country's largest and most powerful - is the most serious threat to Saleh's grasp on power after three months of opposition protests. Saleh refuses to leave power after nearly 33 years of authoritarian rule.

Yemen's defense ministry announced the arrest order on Thursday for Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar who heads the tribe.

Ahmar has dismissed the arrest warrant, accusing President Saleh of dragging Yemen into a civil war. He has urged other Arab countries to pressure Saleh to leave.

Witnesses in the capital Sana'a said Thursday that fighting has continued since overnight, killing at least 24 people. Scores of soldiers, tribesmen and soldiers died in the unrest earlier this week.

Separately, the defense ministry says 28 people died following an explosion at a weapons storage facility in the capital. However, opposition activists dispute the account, saying the deaths resulted from the government's heavy shelling in a residential area. Neither of the claims have been independently confirmed.

Earlier Thursday, witnesses reported heavy shelling and loud explosions in Sana'a. Witnesses also say electricity has been intermittent, and opposition fighters have taken control of several government buildings, including the offices of the state news agency.

Many residents fled the fighting by car on Wednesday.

The U.S. State Department ordered non-essential diplomats and embassy family members to leave Yemen. The State Department said that Yemen's security threat level is "extremely high due to terrorist activities and civil unrest."

Despite the fact that Yemen has been a critical ally of the United States in the fight against al-Qaida, U.S. President Barack Obama has increased pressure on the Yemeni leader to step down.

On Thursday, Reuters news agency quoted White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes as condemning the violence in Yemen, saying it underscores the need for a peaceful transfer of power.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.