Archive: yemen
22nd September 2009
Amnesty International has called on the Yemeni authorities to “clarify the whereabouts” of journalist Muhammad al-Maqalih, who was seized by plain-clothed men last Thursday.
“Amnesty International suspects his apparent disappearance is the result of his strong opposition and criticism of the… Read more
21st September 2009
The Yemeni army says it killed more than 140 Houthi rebels in Saada city yesterday in "the fiercest" fighting since Operation Scorched Earth began on August 11.
The rebels attacked at 3.00 am from three directions in an attempt to capture the government's regional headquarters, but the army foiled… Read more
19th September 2009
The Yemeni government last night declared a temporary truce in its war with the Houthi rebels for the duration of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, according to the German Press Agency. Whether it will take hold remains to be seen. A similar unilateral ceasefire declared a couple of weeks ago lasted only a… Read more
17th September 2009
Attacks by warplanes reportedly killed as many as 87 displaced civilians in northern Yemen yesterday. Details are sketchy but the Associated Press report cites several witnesses to the large number of casualties.
Human Rights Watch, which has called for an investigation, said in a statement:
The… Read more
15th September 2009
Under the headline "Areas outside state control", the Yemen Post has published a round-up of the country's multiple security problems, noting that in most governorates, the state controls only the main cities. Some key points:
Bani Dhabian, Sanaa: "Bani Dhabian is a tribal district… Read more
13th September 2009
"Operation Scorched Earth" against the Houthi rebels in Yemen has been going on for a month now, with no end in sight. The government media continues with its vague reports of military successes and "heavy losses" inflicted on the rebels (the latter may well be true).
The military are said to be "… Read more
12th September 2009
The Economist is the latest publication to raise serious questions about the future of Yemen.
It says (rightly, I think) that much of the reason for the Houthi rebels' success lies with the Yemeni army: "Its aerial bombing and artillery fire have proved better at enraging locals than at subduing… Read more
12th September 2009
Four men in two cars were stopped near the US embassy in Sanaa on Tuesday and found to have in their possession nine grenades, a machine gun, 296 bullets, five detonators, a siren device as used by ambulances and 20 fuel containers.
According to a security source they were just passing through and… Read more
8th September 2009
Socotra, Yemen’s exotic island outpost in the Indian Ocean, witnessed its first-ever riot on Sunday when hundreds of people took to the streets protesting about “an acute shortage of wheat and flour”.
The Yemen Post says they hurled stones at one of the Economic Corporation's stores and police… Read more
7th September 2009
A letter from President Obama confirming US support "for the unity and security of Yemen" was delivered to President Salih on Saturday, according to the official news agency, Saba.
The letter allegedly promised "an initiative to support Yemen to face all its development obstacles and enhance… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
