Sana, Feb 16 (DPA) A protester suffered fatal injuries and at least 17 others were hurt in Yemen Wednesday when anti-government protests turned violent in the southern port city of Aden and in the capital Sana’a, witnesses and opposition sources said.
The 21-year-old protester succumbed to injures he sustained in clashes with police in Aden. Four other protesters were reported injured in the clashes in the al-Mansoura neighbourhood of Aden.
Witnesses said protesters set four cars ablaze outside a municipal building in al-Mansoura after police opened fire to disperse demonstrators.
In Sana’a, 13 people were wounded in clashes between student protesters demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his supporters.
The clashes took place at the gate of Sana’a University campus after pro-government protesters charged into hundreds of students shouting slogans against Saleh.
A police officer fired two warning shots to separate the groups. The students shouted slogans such as ‘The nation wants to topple the regime’ and ‘Oh Ali … leave after Mubarak!’
Government loyalists holding up posters of Saleh chanted ‘No coup against the constitution’.
Some government supporters were seen carrying batons and traditional daggers.
Opposition sources alleged that thugs hired by the ruling General People’s Congress party had chased protesters as they marched to the Presidential Palace and attacked them with knives, batons and rocks.
