Bloody Unrest in Yemen

Sources: HRITC and AP.

The clashes between security forces and participant in the protests that has been wracked Yemen since Feb. 11 took a toll of at least 120 people so far. The Human Rights Information and Training Center (HRTC), Social Watch’s focal point in that country, has claimed for an end of this situation since it began, and warned of gross abuses by the police and the military.

Yemeni security forces clashed with thousands of protesters who hurled rocks and burned tires in the southern port city of Aden on Wednesday, killing at least one person as demonstrations swelled in the capital, according to Associate Press news agency (AP).

Yemen has been wracked by protests since mid-February demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh resign because of the country's lack of freedoms and extreme poverty. More than 120 people have been killed since the uprising began on Feb. 11, inspired by popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, recalled AP.

The army and anti-riot police, backed with tanks and artillery, fired live ammunition and tear gas in Aden, according to eyewitnesses consulted by the news agency. Medical officials said one person was killed and seven wounded.

Human Rights Information and Training Center (HRITC) warns since the beginning of the popular revolts of gross violations and cases of illegal detention against anti-government protesters including wounded protesters. HRITC fears that most of those arrested are unknown, because no one report their disappearance.
 
Police opened fire above the heads of protesters and used batons to disperse the crowds in a peaceful march in Taiz, on Apr. 3. Some 1,600 people suffered injuries then and one was killed by live rounds and tear gas used by the police to disperse the protests, according to HRITC. The security forces arrested 35 protesters.
 
Also 300 people were injured in Alhodiaida city in clashes with the police when protesters went on peaceful march of solidarity with those in in Taiz. HRITC called all the local, regional and international human rights organizations to condemn these crimes as well as to support protesters to exercise their right to express their views and aspirations for a decent life in their country.
 
HRITC also demanded to put pressure on the Yemeni authorities to stop the violations and abuses against participants in the peaceful protests in various provinces and hold those responsible accountable.