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| Yemen forces 'kill 20 protesters' in Taiz | Yemen forces 'kill 20 protesters' in Taiz |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Security forces in Yemen have shot dead at least 20 anti-government protesters in the southern city of Taiz, medics and organisers say. | Security forces in Yemen have shot dead at least 20 anti-government protesters in the southern city of Taiz, medics and organisers say. |
| Soldiers reportedly moved in to end a four-month-old sit-in in the city. | Soldiers reportedly moved in to end a four-month-old sit-in in the city. |
| Meanwhile, Yemen's air force has bombed suspected al-Qaeda fighters who have seized the southern town of Zinjibar, witnesses said. | |
| President Ali Abdullah Saleh refuses to step down despite months of protests and strong opposition from a key tribe. | President Ali Abdullah Saleh refuses to step down despite months of protests and strong opposition from a key tribe. |
| Taiz was one of the first cities in Yemen where demonstrators - inspired by popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt - chose to gather. | Taiz was one of the first cities in Yemen where demonstrators - inspired by popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt - chose to gather. |
| A doctor in the city, Abdulkadir al-Gunaid, told the BBC that security forces were erasing all traces of the protests in Freedom Square. | A doctor in the city, Abdulkadir al-Gunaid, told the BBC that security forces were erasing all traces of the protests in Freedom Square. |
| Fighting has subsided somewhat in Sanaa but the situation is still quite tense and the number of dead has risen in the southern city of Taiz, where the protesters are now in control despite coming under vicious attack. | Fighting has subsided somewhat in Sanaa but the situation is still quite tense and the number of dead has risen in the southern city of Taiz, where the protesters are now in control despite coming under vicious attack. |
| It is the general consensus in the country that the president should step down. | It is the general consensus in the country that the president should step down. |
| Most of the military still side with him publicly although some serving and some retired commanders issued a statement on Sunday calling for him to resign. | Most of the military still side with him publicly although some serving and some retired commanders issued a statement on Sunday calling for him to resign. |
| To some extent, the protests have been hijacked, not only by tribalists, but by military defectors and political Islamists. Yet amazingly, given the combined efforts of all these parties, the people in the squares are still trying to remain independent. | To some extent, the protests have been hijacked, not only by tribalists, but by military defectors and political Islamists. Yet amazingly, given the combined efforts of all these parties, the people in the squares are still trying to remain independent. |
| Unfortunately the president does not see the writing on the wall. He could exit peacefully and retain the respect of his people but he chooses to resort to violence instead. That could bring him to a very bad end, as well as further bloodshed to the country. | Unfortunately the president does not see the writing on the wall. He could exit peacefully and retain the respect of his people but he chooses to resort to violence instead. That could bring him to a very bad end, as well as further bloodshed to the country. |
| "They attacked, shot at people, burned their tents. The square had a big stage to make speeches and to make plays and songs, loudspeakers and this sort of thing. And countless numbers of tents and a gallery for art. And it is a magnet for every big event." | "They attacked, shot at people, burned their tents. The square had a big stage to make speeches and to make plays and songs, loudspeakers and this sort of thing. And countless numbers of tents and a gallery for art. And it is a magnet for every big event." |
| He added: "They killed them [protesters]... and at 0300 [0100 GMT], they brought bulldozers and finished it all. There is nothing there; they are even cleaning it so no-one can guess that there was anything like that before." | He added: "They killed them [protesters]... and at 0300 [0100 GMT], they brought bulldozers and finished it all. There is nothing there; they are even cleaning it so no-one can guess that there was anything like that before." |
| A protest organiser told AFP that security forces backed by army and Republican Guard troops drove the demonstrators out. | A protest organiser told AFP that security forces backed by army and Republican Guard troops drove the demonstrators out. |
| "At least 20 protesters have been killed," the organiser said. | "At least 20 protesters have been killed," the organiser said. |
| Another medical source said some of the wounded had been run over by bulldozers. | Another medical source said some of the wounded had been run over by bulldozers. |
| Earlier reports quoting witnesses and doctors said security forces attacked protesters with rifles and water cannon and set fire to their camp. | Earlier reports quoting witnesses and doctors said security forces attacked protesters with rifles and water cannon and set fire to their camp. |
| Sadek al-Shugaa, head of a field hospital at the protest camp, was quoted by AP news agency as saying soldiers fired into the crowds indiscriminately. | Sadek al-Shugaa, head of a field hospital at the protest camp, was quoted by AP news agency as saying soldiers fired into the crowds indiscriminately. |
| Activists in the capital Sanaa said on Monday they were clearing the protest camp of any weapons in an attempt to assert the peaceful credentials of the anti-government campaign. | Activists in the capital Sanaa said on Monday they were clearing the protest camp of any weapons in an attempt to assert the peaceful credentials of the anti-government campaign. |
| Zinjibar 'air strikes' | Zinjibar 'air strikes' |
| Meanwhile, witnesses in Zinjibar said Yemeni jets had bombed positions of Islamist militants around the town on Monday. | |
| One report said the army was also shelling the town with artillery. | |
| Resident Ali Dahmas told the AP news agency by telephone that fighter jets were firing at the southern outskirts of the town. | |
| Pan-Arab broadcaster al-Jazeera reported that residents were fleeing the town and heading to Aden. | |
| Earlier, security officials said four soldiers were killed when their convoy was ambushed near Zinjibar. | |
| "A convoy of reinforcements fell in an ambush by al-Qaeda elements 1km [less than a mile] from Zinjibar. Four soldiers, including a colonel, were killed and a number of others were wounded," the security official said. | "A convoy of reinforcements fell in an ambush by al-Qaeda elements 1km [less than a mile] from Zinjibar. Four soldiers, including a colonel, were killed and a number of others were wounded," the security official said. |
| Government reports from Zinjibar suggested the town had been seized some days ago by gunmen from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). | Government reports from Zinjibar suggested the town had been seized some days ago by gunmen from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). |
| A battle has reportedly been going on since as forces loyal to President Saleh try to take it back. | A battle has reportedly been going on since as forces loyal to President Saleh try to take it back. |
| However, there are conflicting accounts of the loyalties of the armed men. | However, there are conflicting accounts of the loyalties of the armed men. |
| The government has blamed previous attacks in southern Yemen on al-Qaeda, but the country's opposition has accused President Saleh of stoking fears of an Islamist takeover. | The government has blamed previous attacks in southern Yemen on al-Qaeda, but the country's opposition has accused President Saleh of stoking fears of an Islamist takeover. |
| The opposition coalition Common Forum said Mr Saleh had "delivered Zinjibar to groups that he has formed and armed, to continue to utilise the spectre of al-Qaeda to frighten regional and international parties". | The opposition coalition Common Forum said Mr Saleh had "delivered Zinjibar to groups that he has formed and armed, to continue to utilise the spectre of al-Qaeda to frighten regional and international parties". |
| Army officers who have defected to the opposition say President Saleh is trying to create chaos in the country. | Army officers who have defected to the opposition say President Saleh is trying to create chaos in the country. |
| On Sunday, President Saleh and the country's most powerful tribal leader agreed a ceasefire after five days of fighting in the capital Sanaa, a mediator said. | On Sunday, President Saleh and the country's most powerful tribal leader agreed a ceasefire after five days of fighting in the capital Sanaa, a mediator said. |
| More than 100 people have died in clashes between forces loyal to Hashid leader Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar and President Saleh. | More than 100 people have died in clashes between forces loyal to Hashid leader Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar and President Saleh. |
| The fighting had threatened to push Yemen into civil war. | The fighting had threatened to push Yemen into civil war. |
| Are you in Yemen? Have you been affected by the outbreak of violence? Send us your comments using the form below | Are you in Yemen? Have you been affected by the outbreak of violence? Send us your comments using the form below |