Wounded man is carried away by friends from Taghyir (Chang) Square in Sana'a. (AFP)
A government announced ceasefire came to an end after government forces
attacked protesters and opposition positions in Sana’a and Taiz. The Yemen Post reported that government officials announced Tuesday afternoon that a truce had been agreed upon by the opposition and president Saleh. The ceasefire was meant to take place at 3pm, but residents in Taiz said the shelling was still ongoing well passed 4.30pm. Several families in Taiz were seen fleeing the war zone to neighboring villages, too terrified at the idea of spending another
night in the city, where residential areas were randomly shelled.
In
Sana'a, the truce also failed to take hold. Tribal sources said at least one
man was killed and nine people were wounded when shelling rocked the
northern Al-Hasaba neighborhood. Altogether at least 15 people were
killed, AFP reported, quoting medical officials and tribal sources in both cities.
According to the official announcement the cease fire was between the government and dissident general Ali
Mohsen al-Ahmar. Tribal forces in Al-Hasaba led by powerful chief
Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, who
is just like general Mohsen on the side of the opposition, also agreed to the ceasefire, sources in his
office told AFP. The government statement said the truce went
into immediate effect, But Sadiq's brother, Sheikh Hemyar, told AFP that
President Ali Abdullah Saleh's troops continued to attack the Ahmar
family's homes.
Eyewitnesses said that no real ceasefire took place but the strategy was
a tactic by the government to fool the international community and act
as if it calls for peace. AFP reported that according to the American State Department Saleh told the US ambassador in Sana'a on Tuesday that he
is committed to a plan brokered by Gulf states that calls on him to quit
30 days after signing the deal in exchange for immunity from
prosecution.
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