85 Killed in 3 Days of Clashes in Yemen (AP via L.A.Times)

[everythingsxen]

SAN'A, Yemen -- Clashes between the Yemeni army and followers of a Shiite rebel leader have killed 16 troops and 69 guerrillas during the past three days, military officials said Tuesday.

An army official said government forces bombarded areas where followers of Abdel-Malek al-Hawthi are believed to be hiding out about 112 miles north of San'a, the Yemeni capital.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said about 50 other militant rebels have been arrested.

The fighting comes as members of the Yemen Supreme Defense Council voiced concern during a meeting that the Shiite rebels were receiving assistance from outside countries, according to one of the council's members.

MORE

[everythingsxen]

1. Not a single reply?

85 killed in rioting...

The government alleges "outside" interference....

What is it? Do "we" only care if the people dying are in Iraq?

:eyes:

[ohio2007]

2. Didn't one of bin Ladens brothers meet his demise in Yemen a couple weeks ago?

....Yemen Supreme Defense Council voiced concern during a meeting that the Shiite rebels were receiving assistance from outside countries....
Not saying being of the sunni wahibi sect he was linked to this shia group but the money comes from some source.

Upon further review, it appears he died in Madagascar;


http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21148566-2,00.html

a simple burglary perhaps, with 20 or 30 thieves involved ?

I'm sure the family is dealing with it through proper channels

[IndianaGreen]

3. Here is a brief backgrounder from BBC on Yemen

The modern Republic of Yemen was born in 1990 when traditionalist North Yemen and Marxist South Yemen merged after years of border wars and skirmishes. But the peace broke down in 1994 and a short civil war ended in defeat for separatist southerners and the survival of the unified Yemen.

Since unification Yemen has been modernising and opening up to the world, but it still maintains much of its tribal character and old ways. Tensions persist between the north and the south; some southerners say the northern part of the state is economically privileged.

Hundreds have been killed in a recent uprising in the north-west among some members of the region's Zaidi sect, a branch of Shia Islam in the mainly Sunni country. The president has accused the rebels of trying to overthrow the government.

People wear traditional dress and the custom of chewing the narcotic plant khat in the afternoons is still widely observed. Yemen has attracted the curiosity of a growing number of tourists, although foreigners have been kidnapped by groups seeking to force concessions from the authorities.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/784383.stm

[IndianaGreen]

4. Parliament advocates action against Houthis (Yemen Times)

Parliament advocates action against Houthis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mohammed Bin Sallam

SANA’A, Feb. 11 – Informed sources say military forces have been attacking all Sa’ada governorate villages and areas where Al-Houthi followers exist, using heavy weapons including guns, warplanes and helicopters.

The same sources revealed that Sa’ada was prepared as an operations scene a week ago and witnessed fierce clashes Friday, causing villagers to flee to nearby mountains.

Security authorities isolated the governorate from the outside world by ordering mobile phone companies to switch off all lines between the governorate and other Yemeni areas. Thus, Sa’ada was isolated from the outside world, except for some Thuria mobile phones owned by influential and rich tribesmen. The government also prevented media outlets from entering the governorate.

The Yemeni government hasn’t reported any casualties; however, in a letter sent to the Yemen Times today via email, Member of Parliament Yahya Al-Houthi – brother of rebel Abdulmalik Al-Houthi – declared, “War is aflame on many fronts in Sa’ada, where more than 120 military men have been killed and taken to hospital morgues.”

Yahya Al-Houthi, who now lives in Germany, didn’t speak about the losses among his followers, only saying they were unable to admit their followers to Sa’ada government hospitals.

http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=1024&p=front&a=2

[IndianaGreen]

5. Anti-war demonstrations attempt to stop Sa’ada war

And on a related story:

Anti-war demonstrations attempt to stop Sa’ada war

By Abdul Aziz Oudah & Nasser Arrabyee
Feb 6, 2007, 10:57

Tribal sheikhs, religious scholars and social figures led an anti-war demonstration Monday in Sa’ada, where at least 42 Yemenis have been killed and 81 injured in recent clashes between Abdul Malik al-Houthi’s armed militia and government troops.

The demonstration came after mediation efforts failed to convince the armed militia to surrender and avoid a war with the government. Monday evening marked the end of a 48-hour ultimatum given to al-Houthi and his followers by the President Ali Abdullah after a meeting with the Supreme National Security Council. However, Monday’s meeting of several scholars and sheikhs from Sa’ada governorate resulted in an appeal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh to give them three days to be able to meet with the leaders of the rebels in an attempt to quell the violence, said the governor of Sa’ada, Yahya al-Shami.

He added that the president has responded positively to this request. Al-Shami confirmed that the leader of the rebels, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, had contacted him and offered to surrender himself to the president through him, but due to disagreements among the rebel leadership, this initiative was foiled. One of the leaders, Abdullah al-Rizami, refused to consent to this initiative.

In another meeting Monday, the Shura Council and the upper chamber of Parliament discussed the developments in Sa’ada and demanded that the state fulfill its responsibility in maintaining the security and stability of the region in accordance with the constitution and the law of the land. During the meeting, Ali al-Ansi, the chairman of the National Security Agency, briefed attendees on the legal violations committed by al-Houthi and his followers. Yemen has accused the rebels of wanting to install Shi’ite religious rule in the country, and preaching violence against the United States.

Saleh warned the rebels after the latest outbreak of violence, which began late last month, to surrender their weapons or face a showdown. Earlier, Governor al-Shami said that al-Houthi told him over the phone that he would surrender himself unconditionally. However, officials and observers ruled out the possibility of al-Houthi’s surrender, saying that they considered his statements to be disingenuous, designed only to gain him some time.

http://www.yobserver.com/article-11646.php