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Yemen: Sanaa sees third day of Hashid clashes Yemen: Anti-Saleh Hashid rebels seize public buildings
(about 2 hours 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. Members of Yemen's most powerful tribal group have taken control of several public buildings in Sanaa, say reports.
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. Witnesses say hundreds of people are fleeing the capital on the third day of violence between the Hashid tribal fighters and security forces.
The tribal leader, Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, has joined an uprising against President Saleh's rule. At least 44 people have died in the clashes, which began after forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh moved against the tribe leader's compound.
On Sunday, the president refused to sign a deal to stand down. Mr Saleh refuses to stand down, despite growing international pressure.
One report early on Wednesday said forces loyal to Sheikh al-Ahmar had moved to take control of several public buildings. US President Barack Obama has said he should "move immediately on his commitment to transfer power".
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. 'Wrong decision'
'Don't take orders' Reports on Wednesday said forces loyal to Hashid leader Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar had seized several buildings close to his compound in the Hassaba district.
The interior ministry, national airline building and the headquarters of the state news agency Saba were all reported to have been be overrun.
The crisis in Yemen seems to be entering a new phase. For months, protesters have demanded that President Saleh stand down. They blame him for the country's poverty and corruption.
The powerful tribal networks in the country have mostly kept out of the conflict. Maintaining their support or at least neutrality is vital to Mr Saleh's survival. But that's now changed. The most powerful tribal group, the Hashid - of which Mr Saleh is himself a member - turned against him weeks ago, but showed little sign of using force to oust him.
But this week, government forces moved against the compound of the tribal leader, Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar. He responded by calling hundreds of well-armed supporters onto the streets. The result has been the bloodiest fighting in Sanaa for years.
This seems certain to trigger a violent and concerted reaction from the tribes, making a descent into full-blown civil war that much more likely.
"Armed men stormed the Saba headquarters during the night and demanded that we leave," a Saba journalist told the AFP news agency, although Saba still appeared to be operating at some level.
Thousands of anti-Saleh protesters also marched on the city's main square, which has been the scene of regular demonstrations since February.
Mr Saleh said the seizure of the buildings was a "provocative act to drag us into civil war", placing the blame on members of al-Ahmar tribe.
"But we don't want to widen the confrontation. They have chosen this and they made the wrong decision to confront the state with this kind of violence," he told Reuters.
An opposition politician, Hamid al-Ahmar - also believed to be a brother of the tribal leader - told al-Jazeera the violence was "an attempt to drag the revolution from its peaceful path" which would not succeed.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Galidan Mohamed Galidan, a supporter of Mr Saleh and a member of the Hashid, told BBC Arabic all sides should work together to resolve the political crisis and prevent a civil war.
"We call on [Al-Ahmar fighters] to leave government buildings so that the clashes can end on both sides," he said.
State TV has broadcast images of the damage done to the al-Ahmar compound by the government attack which sparked the latest violence.
A BBC correspondent in Sanaa said government forces were imposing tight security on the capital to prevent Sheikh al-Ahmar's supporters from entering.
Thousands of vehicles were reported to be stuck on roads leading to the north and south as people tried to escape the fighting.
"It's no longer possible to stay in Sanaa. The confrontations will reach all parts of the city," one resident, Murad Abdullah, told Reuters.
"I am afraid for my life. I will go to my village in Ibb. The situation there is safe."
Another resident said he was fleeing shelling in Hassaba. "We ran away from the war, it is war there," he said.
But Mr Saleh remained defiant in a statement read by his spokesman on Wednesday.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.
Immunity
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". The deal Mr Saleh has so far refused to sign, which was presented by the Gulf Co-operation Council, calls for him to step down within a month after 33 years in office and hand over power to a unity government.
Immunity It would also give the president immunity from prosecution.
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.
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.
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