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Yemeni Police Open Fire on Protesters Wounding More Than 100

Yemeni Police Open Fire on Protesters Wounding More Than 100

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemeni police firing from rooftops wounded more than 100 in a protesters’ camp Sunday and anti-government demonstrators paralyzed Bahrain‘s capital as unrest deepened in two of Washington’s most critical allies in the region.

The ruler of Oman, another key Western partner, shifted some lawmaking powers to officials outside the royal family in what an analyst called a historic change.

Meanwhile, Saudi authorities tolerated 200 activists demanding the release of detainees in defiance of stern warnings of crackdowns on pro-democracy rallies.

The range of responses — from attacks to appeasement — underscored the different gambits at play. Some regimes are looking to battle their way out while others turn to rapid reforms in a bid to quell dissent inspired by groundswell for change across the Arab world.

Yemen’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, has increasingly turned to confrontation after protesters rebuffed his offer to bow out with elections in 2013.

Yemeni Police Open Fire on Protesters Wounding More Than 100

Near Sanaa University, an encampment of demonstrators came under twin attacks: police firing from rooftop positions, and a ground assault by security forces and government backers armed with clubs and knives. Mohammad al-Abahi, a doctor in charge of a makeshift hospital near the university, said more than 100 people were injured, including 20 from tear gas inhalation.

In the southern Aden province, it was the protesters on the offensive — storming a police station and seizing weapons after police fled, witnesses said.

Yemen — hit by a wave of protests since mid-February — is considered by Washington to be a vital front-line ally against one of the world’s most active al-Qaida branches. But the U.S. patience for Saleh’s tactics appears to be wearing thin.

Bahrain’s showdown also has reached the one-month mark with no end in sight. There are now fears the tiny kingdom could be stumbling toward open sectarian conflict between the ruling minority Sunnis and Shiites, who account for 70 percent of the nation’s 525,000 people.

The mostly Shiite protesters first took to the streets to air their allegations of widespread discrimination. But the calls have been growing to topple the entire ruling monarchy after attacks and crackdowns by security forces in the strategic nation, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.

Protesters displayed their power with a new and disruptive strategy — blocking the main highway into the financial district in the capital Manama, one of the Gulf’s investment and banking centers. Riot police firing tear gas eventually cleared the barricades, but traffic was snarled for miles (kilometers) and morning commuters were enraged.

“Bahrain is no longer stable,” growled Sawsan Mohammed, 30, who works in the financial district.

In some neighborhoods, vigilantes set up checkpoints to try to keep outsiders from entering. Some Shiite protesters claimed that pro-government gangs were roaming some areas armed with clubs and other weapons.

At Bahrain University, clashes broke out between protesters and government backers. Two protesters sustained serious head injures and hundreds looked for medical help, mostly with breathing problems from tear gas, hospital officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

In Pearl Square — a landmark site occupied by demonstrators — security forces surrounded the tent compound, shooting tear gas in the largest effort to disrupt the protesters since a crackdown last month left four dead.

Police withdrew after activists stood their ground and chanted “Peaceful! peaceful!”

The turmoil came a day after a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who urged Bahrain’s leaders to make quick progress toward reforms. Washington and its Gulf Arab allies worry that Shiite powerhouse Iran could use instability in Bahrain as a foothold to expand its influence in the region.

In Oman — a close ally of both the U.S. and Iran — the ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said issued a decree saying he would hand legislative and regulatory powers within 30 days to two current advisory councils, one elected and another appointed by the sultan.

The move reflects the scramble to head off possible wider unrest in the strategically important nation. Oman and Iran share control of the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf, which carries 40 percent of the world’s oil tanker traffic.

Just hours before the announcement, suspected arsonists burned a government office and the home of a clan leader in Ebri, about 210 miles (350 kilometers) northwest of the capital Muscat. No injuries were reported, but military units boosted their presence in the area.

The sultan has made sweeping Cabinet shake-ups and promises for thousands of new civil service posts since demonstrations began late last month. But the latest plan introduces the most fundamental changes about how the country is governed.

An Oman-based political analyst, Saeed Awad bin Bagoer, described the sultan’s plan to transfer powers to the council as an “historic political reform.”

In the Saudi capital Riyadh, more than 200 people were allowed to protest outside the Interior Ministry to demand the release of detainees held on security and terrorism-related charges.

The rally was held despite a ban on demonstrations and threats for harsh crackdowns on any challenge to the pro-Western monarchy. It was not clear whether it was a bid by Saudi authorities to allow limited demonstrations or if the protesters could face punishment later.

Moroccan police broke up an unauthorized protest in Casablanca by several hundred people, including many supporters of Morocco’s best-known Islamist movement, the Justice and Spirituality movement.

An Interior Ministry official told The Associated Press that about 50 protesters were arrested and four officers injured.

King Mohammed VI said Wednesday that Morocco will revise its constitution for the first time in 15 years — part of steps to build greater democracy.

___

Associated Press writers Ahmed Al-Haj in Sanaa, Yemen; Reem Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain, and Saeed Al-Nahdy in Muscat, Oman, contributed to this report.

Comments (27)

  • hud
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 11:31am

    A federal republic form of government with the right laws is probably the best humans can do. But the election process is the key, whether you vote for sh-t, or it elects itself, you still have sh-t in positions of dominance. eg USofA under Obummer Voters should be property owners (skin in the game), rather than selling your vote for a beer and chicken wing(Obummer voter)

    Report Post »  
  • temple62
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 5:23pm

    What a shame the quake and tsunami missed this region! It would have made millions of dollars worth of improvements.

    Report Post » temple62  
  • dizzyinthedark
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 7:54am

    Don’t the Saudis own our major ports? I seem to recall reading this a few years back. If true, we better not piss them off anymore than we already are.

    Report Post » dizzyinthedark  
  • dcwu
    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:54am

    Machiavelli would suggest that the most brutal, ruthless side will win.

    Report Post »  
  • QuietTexan
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 10:54pm

    As an aside, I could not watch the video but I certainly hope that the small child on the man’s shoulder was not in the crowd being fired on. Also if there was a possibility of such violence, who would bring a child into that kind of danger?

    Report Post » QuietTexan  
  • QuietTexan
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 10:51pm

    If the US were to assist any of our “allies” in the ME, what would that assistance be? What should we protect? Are the government leaders our allies or are the countries’ peoples? Do we protect our military assets ( bases / equipment / personnel )? Do we protect the oil fields and supply lines, the harbors? Do we go further and help the people overthrow the governments or help the leaders squash the rabble? Do we stand by and do nothing while people are injured and killed? We are America. We do not simply help people out of self-interest but out of common decency. The real questions are what will help end the fighting and will that help be appreciated by either side when the fighting is over.

    Report Post » QuietTexan  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 10:25pm

    These demonstrators forgot to observe Obama’s cardinal rule: If they bring a knife, we’ll bring a gun. Oh, yeah, that’s right, only the government has guns over there. Hmm, now I know why the Democrats are so eager to take ours away…….makes perfect sense now. NO GUNS (in the hands of citizens), NO WORRIES for government thugs!

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • HOOT
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 8:53pm

    obama will back the shiits of iran again.

    Report Post »  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 8:48pm

    Mao is on his way to destroy your towns, cities and way of life, the liberal outlook is to control every aspect of your life, tell you what to eat, when you can heat your home, remember Detroit city is modeled after 50 years of democratic rule. It is there for the whole world to see, a decaying city as immoral and dead as can be. Must be aproud example of democratic rule. People like MAO want people to think they are looking after you, but they are not. MAO is Obamas buddy and they will do everything possible to detroy the US.

    Report Post »  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 8:13pm

    The Obama Administration has stirred up a rat’s nest. Great timing, maybe now they can get gasoline prices up over seven bucks a gallon to totally sink the American way of life. I’m sure all lefties will love that, especially Al Gore. Just think how happy he’ll be to know that everyone will now have to strap a miniature windmill to the backs of their cars just to get to work!

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • wethepeoplepress
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 7:59pm

    Democracy is nothing more than 51% taking from the 49%. Thomas Jefferson.

    That’s why our founders constructed America as a Democratic Constitutional Republic. With so many of our liberties now stripped from us, we are but a faint glimmer of what we once were. I personally doubt we ever win back the Republic, we are past Stupidity Threshold.

    Report Post » wethepeoplepress  
  • hownowbrownmao
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 7:40pm

    Oh yea, I care that Yemenis are shooting each other? Come on morons, explain why you care so deeply for Muslims working out their problems their own way. I think they are making great strides.

    Report Post »  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 7:25pm

    If Obama could kill citizens to get his own way he would be doing the same thing, this is a dictator thug that wants more then anything to eliminate the second amendment and take weapons from the citizens. He could then arm the Union members, this is the dream of the far left, take over the US and have complete control over the people. Impeach Obama NOW!

    Report Post »  
    • hownowbrownmao
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 7:37pm

      you my patriotic friend , are a goober smoocher, I am fairly certain I have every right that I had 3 years ago, and when Obama leaves office , you bunch of morons will have to make up all new stories of how the republicans are secretly ruining your lives. Admit it whinin’ lil sally, you ain’t ever been happy!

      Report Post »  
  • jackeric61
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 7:01pm

    Lets hope that our gov’t shows it can let the American people demonstrate when our economy becomes as bad as theirs. Food and energy prices are ready to take off and we will be shouting loud and clear for our elected officials to do something. And the sad part is if they would just get out of the way and reduce the size of gov’t we would be fine.

    Report Post »  
  • TeaPartyPatriot
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 6:50pm

    As the people of the Middle East states demonstrate FOR democracy, the lunatic-left d-crat socialists and their union bo$$e$ demonstrate AGAINST democracy in Wisconsin.

    Report Post » TeaPartyPatriot  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 7:16pm

      democracy……………..rule by majority, or mob rule

      representative republic………….rule by representatives by vote following rules of law

      see the difference?

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • My Sacred Honor
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 8:18pm

      In Wisconsin, the protests are about sore-losing. Their Governor ran saying he would do just what he did, and now the losers who are a vast minority are crying about it.
      Let us hope the other Governors in the other “contested” states can do the same.
      Here in Indiana, last I heard those absent dems in the state Senate are being fined $250/day every day they do not show up.
      Good start.

      Report Post » My Sacred Honor  
  • Robert-CA
    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 6:27pm

    I hope they’ll get real democracy @ the end but I doubt it .

    Report Post » Robert-CA  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 6:58pm

      In the case of Yemen I hope democracy comes out too; yet the real threat is the terrorist groups who use Yemen as their home base are most likely behind this, and will set up a sharia government as well if they win.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 7:15pm

      i dont …………..i hope they dont get a democracy why would you wish that on a population?????

      now if you said a representative republic i would be in agreement

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • GBMBulletsSKNRD
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 7:16pm

      All I see on both sides is a bunch of animals. It looks like it is comeing here to, Wisconsin ring a bell.

      Report Post »  
    • tenring
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 7:32pm

      This country will never become a democracy. It will go from one dictatorship to anther as it has for thousands of years. The only difference is the next government will hate America more.

      Report Post » tenring  
    • My Sacred Honor
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 8:15pm

      Dammit, obama, send in a Battalion or two of Marines to our allies to squash this rebellion! THESE ARE OUR ALLIES!
      I so truely despise our current administration…

      Report Post » My Sacred Honor  
    • Now this is Art
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 9:21pm

      l love it when muslims do away with other muslims…isnt it wonderful. remember mohammed was a murderer, rapist, pedophile and hate monger…who the heck follows such a person…cult members, thats who.

      Report Post » Now this is Art  
    • Large Eagle
      Posted on March 13, 2011 at 10:06pm

      Did anyone see blood – did the gas them

      Report Post »  
    • hud
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 11:21am

      TO Psychosis Well, we have one of those republics. How’s that working for you in the age of Obummer

      Report Post »  

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