.- A separatist militant group on Sunday called for other units of the armed forces of Yemen to join him to overthrow President Ali Abdullah Saleh, increasing pressure on the governor to end his term of three decades in the divided country. Opposition leaders accused Saleh separately to allow the city of Zinjibar, in the Gulf of Aden, fell into the hands of militants from Al Qaeda and unleash the alarm in a region which in turn hand over its support for the president.
Despite the regional and global demands for his resignation, Saleh has refused to sign an agreement brokered by the Gulf States to initiate a transition of power that seeks to avoid a civil war, which remecerÃa an oil producing region. "We ask you not to follow orders to take on other units of the Army or the people," said separatist units in a statement read by the general Aleiwa Ali Abdullah, a former defense minister.
In Sanaa, a tenuous cease-fire seemed to remain after nearly a week of fighting between security forces Saleh and a powerful tribal group that killed at least 115 people and forced thousands to flee the capital for safety. Zinjibar residents, about 270 kilometers southeast of the capital, said gunmen from Al Qaeda probably had control of the city in the province of Abyan, a flashpoint.
"About 300 Islamic militants and Al Qaeda men entered Zinjibar and fully occupied on Friday, "said one resident. Three armed militants and three civilians were killed in struggles against local residents, who have joined a few government troops trying to retake the city from the group of Al Qaeda and Islamist militants, medics said.
In the southern city of Taiz, security forces opened fire to disperse a demonstration against Saleh, killing two protesters and wounded 35 people, said an activist. About 300 Yemenis were killed in recent months as the president has tried to stop pro-reform protests by force. General and government officials began to leave after deadly offensive Saleh became effective in March.
There were no big clashes yet between the separatist military units and troops loyal to Saleh. Opposition groups and diplomats have accused Saleh of using the threat of Al Qaeda to get assistance and support from regional powers seeking help from their government to fight the militants.
Fears are growing that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP for its acronym in English) based in Yemen, exploits this instability, analysts said. United States and Saudi Arabia, both white AQAP attacks, are concerned that the growing chaos is encouraging the group. 
Despite the regional and global demands for his resignation, Saleh has refused to sign an agreement brokered by the Gulf States to initiate a transition of power that seeks to avoid a civil war, which remecerÃa an oil producing region. "We ask you not to follow orders to take on other units of the Army or the people," said separatist units in a statement read by the general Aleiwa Ali Abdullah, a former defense minister.
In Sanaa, a tenuous cease-fire seemed to remain after nearly a week of fighting between security forces Saleh and a powerful tribal group that killed at least 115 people and forced thousands to flee the capital for safety. Zinjibar residents, about 270 kilometers southeast of the capital, said gunmen from Al Qaeda probably had control of the city in the province of Abyan, a flashpoint.
"About 300 Islamic militants and Al Qaeda men entered Zinjibar and fully occupied on Friday, "said one resident. Three armed militants and three civilians were killed in struggles against local residents, who have joined a few government troops trying to retake the city from the group of Al Qaeda and Islamist militants, medics said.
In the southern city of Taiz, security forces opened fire to disperse a demonstration against Saleh, killing two protesters and wounded 35 people, said an activist. About 300 Yemenis were killed in recent months as the president has tried to stop pro-reform protests by force. General and government officials began to leave after deadly offensive Saleh became effective in March.
There were no big clashes yet between the separatist military units and troops loyal to Saleh. Opposition groups and diplomats have accused Saleh of using the threat of Al Qaeda to get assistance and support from regional powers seeking help from their government to fight the militants.
Fears are growing that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP for its acronym in English) based in Yemen, exploits this instability, analysts said. United States and Saudi Arabia, both white AQAP attacks, are concerned that the growing chaos is encouraging the group.
- Yemen militants capture coastal city (29/05/2011)
- Yemen militants capture coastal city - The Guardian (29/05/2011)
- "Saudi Arabia Continues to support President Saleh" and related posts (29/05/2011)
- AQ Takes Yemeni Town As Obama Presses for Ouster of Yemeni President (29/05/2011)
- Militants cement control over town in southern Yemen (29/05/2011)
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