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| Yemen: Sanaa sees third day of Hashid clashes | Yemen: Sanaa sees third day of Hashid clashes |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Street battles between Yemeni security forces and the country's most powerful tribal federation are continuing for a third day in the capital, Sanaa. | Street battles between Yemeni security forces and the country's most powerful tribal federation are continuing for a third day in the capital, Sanaa. |
| At least 44 people have died in the clashes, which began after forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh moved against a tribal leader's compound. | At least 44 people have died in the clashes, which began after forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh moved against a tribal leader's compound. |
| The tribal leader, Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, has joined an uprising against President Saleh's rule. | The tribal leader, Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, has joined an uprising against President Saleh's rule. |
| On Sunday, the president refused to sign a deal to stand down. | On Sunday, the president refused to sign a deal to stand down. |
| One report early on Wednesday said forces loyal to Sheikh al-Ahmar had moved to take control of several public buildings. | One report early on Wednesday said forces loyal to Sheikh al-Ahmar had moved to take control of several public buildings. |
| They seized the state news agency Saba and the national airline building, while also trying to storm the interior ministry headquarters, AFP news agency reported. | They seized the state news agency Saba and the national airline building, while also trying to storm the interior ministry headquarters, AFP news agency reported. |
| 'Don't take orders' | 'Don't take orders' |
| But Mr Saleh remained defiant in a statement read by his spokesman on Wednesday. | |
| "I will not leave power and I will not leave Yemen," the spokesman, Ahmed al-Soufi, quoted the president as saying. | "I will not leave power and I will not leave Yemen," the spokesman, Ahmed al-Soufi, quoted the president as saying. |
| He dismissed fears that Yemen risked civil war, and that the country might turn into a failed state or an "al-Qaeda refuge." | He dismissed fears that Yemen risked civil war, and that the country might turn into a failed state or an "al-Qaeda refuge." |
| And he implicitly criticised Western efforts to mediate a transition, saying: "I don't take orders from outside." | And he implicitly criticised Western efforts to mediate a transition, saying: "I don't take orders from outside." |
| He also said he was still prepared to sign a transition deal "within a national dialogue and a clear mechanism". | He also said he was still prepared to sign a transition deal "within a national dialogue and a clear mechanism". |
| "No more concessions after today," he added. | "No more concessions after today," he added. |
| Later on Wednesday, US President Barack Obama - in a joint press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron in London - repeated his call for Mr Saleh to "move immediately on his commitment to transfer power". | |
| Immunity | Immunity |
| The deal Mr Saleh has so far refused to sign called for him to step down within a month after 33 years in office and hand over power to a unity government. | The deal Mr Saleh has so far refused to sign called for him to step down within a month after 33 years in office and hand over power to a unity government. |
| It would also have given the president immunity from prosecution. | It would also have given the president immunity from prosecution. |
| Mr Saleh has previously said he would only sign in the presence of opposition leaders. | Mr Saleh has previously said he would only sign in the presence of opposition leaders. |
| Sheikh Ahmar, head of the powerful Hashid tribe, is a former supporter of the president. He joined the anti-government protests against Mr Saleh in March. | Sheikh Ahmar, head of the powerful Hashid tribe, is a former supporter of the president. He joined the anti-government protests against Mr Saleh in March. |
| On Tuesday, his compound appeared to have been shelled as tribal leaders were trying to mediate a ceasefire there. | On Tuesday, his compound appeared to have been shelled as tribal leaders were trying to mediate a ceasefire there. |
| President Saleh has accused the sheikh of trying to provoke civil war, but the same accusation has been levelled against the president. | President Saleh has accused the sheikh of trying to provoke civil war, but the same accusation has been levelled against the president. |