Six protesters killed and dozens injured in open fire in Sanaa

Thousands of Yemeni youth marching from Taiz in what they called “Al-Hayat March” Sanaa – Khalid Haroji Thousands of Yemeni youth marching from Taiz in what they called “Al-Hayat March” were able to cross security checkpoints and roadblocks at the south entrance to Yemeni capital, passing by Taiz Street, at the heart of Sanaa. Eyewitnesses told ‘Arabstoday’ that six protesters were killed; while dozens were injured by live bullets and teargas fired by Central Security Forces and armed Saleh loyalists.
The march, which launched Tuesday from Taiz, joined by thousands of protesters from different Yemeni cities on the way to Sanaa, about 250 km away, was intercepted at Dar Selm by Central Security Forces (CSF), republican guards, and armed civilians described as ‘thugs’.
Eyewitnesses said that thousands of youth from various neighborhoods in Sanaa flooded into the site to meet the march. They explained that CSF and Republican Guards blocked all streets leading to al-Sabeen square and the presidential palace, to prevent it from being stormed by protesters. Thus, they interrupted the march at Dar Selm, and demanded that they move toward Kholan Street. The youth refused and threatened to hold a sit-in where they were if they were not allowed to pass through Taiz Street.
After hours of standing still in Dar Selm, the front of the march was allowed to pass through Taiz Street, right before the group at the front was besieged and separated from the rest of the march, which resulted in clashes. Eyewitnesses say that one of the ‘thugs’ opened fire at the march and tried to run off with his vehicle, failed, and escaped on foot as the youth burned his car.
Sources in the march said that CSF and republican guards besieged groups from the march, as well as kidnapped dozens of protesters.
Yemeni president is to hold a press conference from the Presidential Palace in Sanaa within a few hours. The subject of Saleh’s conference, which would be the first since the beginning of protests demanding his departure, is still unknown.