Yemen accuses West of conspiracy
2011-10-06 21:38
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Yemen
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Sana'a - Yemen's opposition and Western nations were involved in "a conspiracy against democracy," a senior government official said on Thursday.
"What is happening in Yemen is a conspiracy against democracy because the West supports forces seeking a coup," the chief of the security forces, Yehia Saleh, told reporters, referring to opposition.
"The Gulf initiative and power transfer in Yemen is an internal affair," added Yehia Saleh, who is a nephew of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
He was referring to a deal brokered by the Gulf Co-operation Council for a peaceful power transfer in the country.
Millions of Yemenis have taken to the streets since February, demanding an end to the president's 33-year rule.
On Thursday, eight people were wounded in the southern city of Taiz when Saleh's troops fired on them during a mass protest, broadcaster Al Arabiya reported.
The demonstrators were denouncing shelling by government troops in their city on Wednesday, according to the television report.
Taiz is a focal point in Yemen's pro-democracy protests.
Tribal opponents
Earlier in the day, clashes erupted in the capital Sana'a between pro-Saleh forces and tribal opponents.
The fighting raged in an area located about 10km from Sana'a airport, in the district of Al-Hasabah, in the north of the capital. No casualties were reported.
The clashes were the latest between the Saleh's troops and loyalists of Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, an influential tribal chief who recently vowed not to allow the president to retain power.
At least 1 480 people have been killed in the Arabian Peninsula country since the clashes between security forces and anti-Saleh opponents began in February, according to the government.
- SAPA
