Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Yemen protesters always demand the departure of Saleh

Tens of thousands of protesters again took to the streets in Taiz and Aden, southern Yemen, Wednesday, April 6, demanding the resignation of President Saleh. These events were caused by the death of a protester shot and killed Tuesday in Taiz, witnesses said. The balance of the wave of violence in this city, Hodeidah on the Red Sea and in the capital, Sanaa, is now 25 dead.

In Aden, eight activists were also arrested. Negotiations between opposition leaders and diplomats representing member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which Saleh has accepted the mediation took place. After the meeting, a spokesman for the opposition, Mohammed Qahtran, expressed his optimism but recognized that the negotiation of the details could take time.

The Yemeni president says he will leave his post after the parliamentary and presidential elections this year. According to people involved in the negotiations, discussions come up against possible prosecution for corruption against him. After the recent unrest, the United States has again warned its ally Yemen.

"The United States strongly condemns the use of violence by government forces against demonstrators in Yemen in Sana'a, Taiz and Hodeidah in recent days, said spokesman of the White House, Jay Carney. Yemenis have the right to demonstrate peacefully and we remind the president Ali Abdullah Saleh that it is his responsibility to ensure the safety of Yemenis who exercise their universal right to express their political opinions.

"Spokesman of President Barack Obama also called on the government in Sanaa to "conduct full investigations of these events" and to ensure that those responsible for their actions. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has assured that they have no intention of suspending its military aid to Yemen while calling for a peaceful transition.

Amnesty International also warned Wednesday against any agreement that would guarantee impunity for perpetrators of violence that have killed dozens of demonstrators in Yemen, especially during the "Black Friday" for which fifty-two protesters were killed by bullets. "The international community must play a more active role if the Yemenis are liable for killings in recent weeks", said the organization.

"Strong men can not escape [the Justice] when the Yemeni people are called to account, writes Philip Luther, deputy director of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa. The way to reduce tensions in the country is to dispense justice and uncover the truth rather than find ways to avoid it.

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