Global General

At least 63 die in Yeman protests; 800 injured

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-31 09:44

A wounded anti-government protester lies on a bed at a hospital after clashes with police in the southern Yemeni city of Taiz May 30, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

SANAA -- The death toll of clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces overnight Monday in Yemen's southern province of Taiz rose to at least 63, doctors told Xinhua.

Up to 800 others were injured and dozens of them with gunshot injuries were still in critical conditions, doctors said.

Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a rally to demand the ouster of Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa May 30, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

Witnesses said police forces and armed government backers used bulldozers to clear the remaining tents after the forces used live ammunition, tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters from their sit-in area in downtown Taiz.

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Taiz, the second largest city located about 200 km south of the capital Sanaa, has been the scene of almost daily clashes between police and protesters demanding immediate end to the 33-year rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Meanwhile, human rights activists said several bodies of physically handicapped protesters were found after they were trapped in the fire which was set on the tents by police and government supporters.

The scattered protesters gathered again on Monday evening and tried to march forward their sit-in area dubbed Freedom Square, but police forces dispersed them again, killing at least one protester.

Police forces then occupied the protest sit-in square, said the witnesses.

A girl joins anti-government protesters as she shout slogans during a rally to demand the ouster of Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa May 30, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

Human rights activists also said security forces arrested dozens of protesters overnight.

Since February, daily clashes between police forces and anti-government protesters broke out in Yemen's major cities.

The impoverished Arab country is trying to cement a ceasefire to end a recent tribe rebellion in the capital Sanaa that killed at least 127 people, as government forces have been shelling militants of the Yemen-based al-Qaida wing after the latter took over the southern troubled province of Abyan on Saturday.