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Yemen violence mars poll to replace Ali Abdullah Saleh | Yemen violence mars poll to replace Ali Abdullah Saleh |
(40 minutes later) | |
Violence in southern Yemen has marred an election to replace veteran leader Ali Abdullah Saleh. | Violence in southern Yemen has marred an election to replace veteran leader Ali Abdullah Saleh. |
At least eight soldiers have been killed at southern polling stations, in violence many had expected after separatists called for a voter boycott. | At least eight soldiers have been killed at southern polling stations, in violence many had expected after separatists called for a voter boycott. |
Half of Aden's polling stations have now closed but the capital, Sanaa, was calm as people formed orderly queues. | |
Voters are due to rubber-stamp Vice-President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi - the only candidate in Tuesday's poll. | Voters are due to rubber-stamp Vice-President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi - the only candidate in Tuesday's poll. |
Officials told BBC Arabic that gunmen killed four soldiers in an attack on a polling station in Hadramawt province. | Officials told BBC Arabic that gunmen killed four soldiers in an attack on a polling station in Hadramawt province. |
Two soldiers were killed and a number of people injured in Aden, the main city in the south. Half the polling stations there have now closed following attacks. | Two soldiers were killed and a number of people injured in Aden, the main city in the south. Half the polling stations there have now closed following attacks. |
A visiting former British MP, Baroness Nicholson, was in a polling station in Aden when an attack happened nearby. | |
She told the BBC's Newshour programme that she and two female Yemeni ministers were monitoring voting when "a great sequence of explosions" took place. She said no-one at the polling station was injured and she did not think she had been the target of the attack. | |
Two soldiers were also killed in an attack in the al-Hawta district. | Two soldiers were also killed in an attack in the al-Hawta district. |
The separatist Southern Movement announced a day of "civil disobedience" to mark the vote. | The separatist Southern Movement announced a day of "civil disobedience" to mark the vote. |
Shia rebels in the north have also called for a boycott of the poll. | Shia rebels in the north have also called for a boycott of the poll. |
The election comes after a year violent anti-government protests erupted in the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country. | The election comes after a year violent anti-government protests erupted in the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country. |
'End of Saleh era' | 'End of Saleh era' |
At a huge rally inside the Sanaa football stadium, I saw thousands of enthusiastic supporters chanting the name of Yemen's Vice-President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. | At a huge rally inside the Sanaa football stadium, I saw thousands of enthusiastic supporters chanting the name of Yemen's Vice-President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. |
For outsiders, it is hard to understand why anyone would get excited about such a demonstrably undemocratic election. | For outsiders, it is hard to understand why anyone would get excited about such a demonstrably undemocratic election. |
The vice-president is the only candidate - but that is not the point. This election is about making sure that Yemen's president for the last 33 years, Ali Abdullah Saleh, is gone for good. | The vice-president is the only candidate - but that is not the point. This election is about making sure that Yemen's president for the last 33 years, Ali Abdullah Saleh, is gone for good. |
Even with him gone, the old president's sons and nephews still control the military. | Even with him gone, the old president's sons and nephews still control the military. |
Large chunks of the country are in rebellion and al-Qaeda militants have recently taken control of two districts. And half a million children suffer from severe malnutrition. | Large chunks of the country are in rebellion and al-Qaeda militants have recently taken control of two districts. And half a million children suffer from severe malnutrition. |
It is a daunting list of tasks for Yemen's new president. | It is a daunting list of tasks for Yemen's new president. |
The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, in Sanaa, says this sort of violence had been expected. | The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, in Sanaa, says this sort of violence had been expected. |
"It's happened in previous elections, because the Southern Movement wants autonomy, or to re-establish an independent southern republic. It's believed they or people affiliated to them are responsible." | "It's happened in previous elections, because the Southern Movement wants autonomy, or to re-establish an independent southern republic. It's believed they or people affiliated to them are responsible." |
Our correspondent says Sanaa is much more peaceful, with many people voting amid tight security. In one district he visited officials said by midday 45% of eligible voters had cast their ballot. | Our correspondent says Sanaa is much more peaceful, with many people voting amid tight security. In one district he visited officials said by midday 45% of eligible voters had cast their ballot. |
The main supporters of the uprising that began in January 2011 are backing Mr Hadi, whose election posters are prominently displayed in Sanaa. | The main supporters of the uprising that began in January 2011 are backing Mr Hadi, whose election posters are prominently displayed in Sanaa. |
He is from the south himself and has called for dialogue with the separatists. | He is from the south himself and has called for dialogue with the separatists. |
Yemeni human rights activist Tawakkol Karman, joint winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, said as she voted that the election marked the end of Mr Saleh's 33-year reign. | |
"Today we are building the new Yemen, we are building the democratic and happy Yemen that all of the youth and women have dreamed about," she said. | "Today we are building the new Yemen, we are building the democratic and happy Yemen that all of the youth and women have dreamed about," she said. |
But the country still faces multiple challenges - an ongoing rebellion in large chunks of the country, al-Qaeda militants, widespread malnutrition among children and severe drought. | But the country still faces multiple challenges - an ongoing rebellion in large chunks of the country, al-Qaeda militants, widespread malnutrition among children and severe drought. |
Husam Al-Sharjabi, a 37-year-old protester who recently formed the al-Watan opposition party, acknowledged in a BBC interview that al-Qaeda posed a real threat. | Husam Al-Sharjabi, a 37-year-old protester who recently formed the al-Watan opposition party, acknowledged in a BBC interview that al-Qaeda posed a real threat. |
"It's a threat that has been exaggerated, but it must be taken seriously," he said. | "It's a threat that has been exaggerated, but it must be taken seriously," he said. |
"We need to take a multi-faceted approach involving defence, diplomacy and development, to minimise the opportunities for these groups to recruit from the poor and disenfranchised." | "We need to take a multi-faceted approach involving defence, diplomacy and development, to minimise the opportunities for these groups to recruit from the poor and disenfranchised." |
The election follows a deal brokered by Yemen's Gulf Arab neighbours. | The election follows a deal brokered by Yemen's Gulf Arab neighbours. |
Mr Saleh signed the agreement to step down - but only once a new president has been elected. | Mr Saleh signed the agreement to step down - but only once a new president has been elected. |
On Monday, he urged Yemenis to vote for Mr Hadi to ensure "a peaceful transition of power". | On Monday, he urged Yemenis to vote for Mr Hadi to ensure "a peaceful transition of power". |
More than 12 million people are eligible to vote, including 2.2 million newly registered voters. | More than 12 million people are eligible to vote, including 2.2 million newly registered voters. |
The new president is due to stay in office for two years, when a further round of presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled. | |
Are you in Yemen? What is your reaction to the election? Do you intend to vote? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Yemen? What is your reaction to the election? Do you intend to vote? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |