Archive: yemen

20th May 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Videos have been posted on the internet showing the aftermath of Saudi Arabia's bulldozing of a Yemeni village (reported hereyesterday). "Here were houses," a man says in one of them. There doesn't seem to be much left of the village and I can't help thinking that if the Israelis had done this,… Read more
19th May 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Saudi forces are active across the border again, in Yemeni territory. In an incident that is being likened to Israel's destruction of Palestinian homes, the Yemeni village of Um Quaia’ah, close to the Saudi border, "was ravaged by Saudi bulldozers, including mosques and electricity poles", the… Read more
18th May 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
The Yemen Times has a few more details of the apparent attempt to assassinate President Salih on Saturday. The paper says the vehicles that came under attack were indeed the presidential convoy, though Salih was not in it – he had left earlier for Taizz by helicopter. The Yemen Times continues: One… Read more
17th May 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Yemen's Houthi rebels have not received much attention internationally since the ceasefire was declared in February. Since then, there have been numerous small-scale incidents, indicating that the war is dormant rather than at an end. Last week, a 30-minute battle between rebels and security forces… Read more
16th May 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
There are conflicting reports of an attack in southern Yemen which may have been a botched attempt to assassinate President Salih. A convoy of vehicles came under fire – apparently from southern separatists – in al-Habilain district of Lahij province yesterday. At least one soldier was killed and… Read more
14th May 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
More than 2,200 Yemenis have tied the knot during the past month at a series of mass weddings funded by Saudi businessmen and various charities, Arab News reports: "Each groom is given 65,000 Yemeni rials ($290), a gold necklace, a ring and clothes. Another 30,000 rials ($133) and a meal for 300 is… Read more
13th May 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
There are no political prisoners in Yemen, justice minister Ghazi al-Aghbari claimed yesterday. He was speaking to a technical team from the international "Friends of Yemen" group who had come to look at issues of justice and security. This is ridiculous, as Jane Novak points out in her blog: The… Read more
12th May 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
In an apparent attempt to release Faris Mana'a, Yemen's top arms dealer (now under arrest), his relatives opened fireyesterday on a police convoy taking him to court. The driver of a passing mini-bus was killed. Mana'a served for some time as head of the committee mediating between the Yemeni… Read more
9th May 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Yemen has joined the list of Arab countries trying to stop people making cheap phone calls over the internet. According to the Yemen Times, blocking of Skype was introduced earlier this yearat the request of TeleYemen to protect the revenue it gets from international calls. TeleYemen's terms and… Read more
30th April 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Violence in northern Yemen seems to be increasing again, despite the truce called by the government in February. On Wednesday, the interior ministry said three tribesmen (described by Reuters as "pro-government") were killed by Houthi rebels. Yesterday, officials said seven people died during a gun… Read more