Archive: yemen

29th March 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
More than 100 people are reported dead following an explosion at a munitions factory in southern Yemen on Monday . The Financial Times says: According to a resident of the area, the explosion took place when local people swarmed into the building to steal ammunition, after government security… Read more
23rd March 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
As turmoil continued in Yemen yesterday, President Salih offered to step down by January next year after organising new parliamentary elections. The opposition has rejected this – and rightly so. He should go immediately. Tying his departure to elections would provide Salih with an excuse to cling… Read more
22nd March 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
In Yemen, Monday began with what appeared to be an attempted coup by the president's kinsman, General Ali Muhsin al-Ahmar who announced that he was siding with the protesters – and tanks duly appeared on the streets of Sana'a. Since Ali Muhsin is the person Yemenis (including President Salih)… Read more
18th March 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
It has been a truly terrible day in Yemen, with more than 40 people reported dead as a result of attacks on demonstrators by the president's supporters in Sana'a. Although armed conflict is common in Yemen, there has been nothing like this in the capital for many years. The Egyptian Chronicles blog… Read more
13th March 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
There is growing international concern about attacks on demonstrators by Yemeni security forces and their allies. On Saturday, several people died (the exact number is unclear) during a pre-dawn offensive against the protesters' camp at Sana'a University.  Across the country, more than 30… Read more
12th March 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
It seems that Yemenis will not be electing a new parliament on April 27 after all. March 10 was the official date for calling the elections. Nothing happened then and, according to the Yemen Observer, the reason is that the electoral registers are not ready. This technical problem effectively gets… Read more
5th March 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
   Back in January I wrote about a demonstration at Sana'a University. It was a fairly small affair involving some 2,500 people (pictures here) but it was also, as far as I am aware, the first demonstration in the Yemeni capital aimed primarily at persuading President Salih to step down. That, as… Read more
3rd March 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
There is talk of "initial agreement" in Yemen on a five-point plan put forward by opposition leaders which includes President Salih leaving office nine months from now.  Under pressure, Salih has already said he will step down in September 2013 when his current term ends. The nine-month idea seems… Read more
28th February 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
Nobody can govern in Yemen without support from the tribes and on Saturday influential figures from the country's two main tribal groupings – the Hashid and the Bakil – abandoned President Salih. "I announce my resignation from the General People's Congress [the ruling party] in protest at the… Read more
12th February 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
Lest we forget that Yemen also has a place called Tahrir Square, here's an account from Human Rights Watch about the events there yesterday: Hundreds of men armed with knives, sticks, and assault rifles attacked anti-government protesters in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, as Yemeni security forces stood… Read more