Sana’a,May 23,2011(Naseh News)---The heavy fighting broke out in the Hassaba district of Sana'a, near the residence of the Hashid tribe leader, Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, on Monday a day after Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign a power transition deal.
Witnesses say machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades were used during the fighting. There were also reports of huge explosions in the northern neighborhood, where a number of ministries are located.
A Yemeni official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Ahmar loyalists had taken over the trade and industry ministry as well as a religious school and that a Yemeni Airlines office building was set on fire and smoke belched out of a building inside the Interior Ministry compound.
The headquarters of the state news agency, Saba, was also attacked.
According to medical sources, at least 5 was killed and dozens wounded .
It was not immediately clear what caused the clashes, but some reports suggest that the fighting broke out after security forces tried to set up roadblocks between al-Ahmar's residential compound and the nearby Al-Rammah schoole which the tribes refused.
Abdel-Qawi al-Qabasi, an aide to al-Ahmar, however, said security forces were trying to storm al-Ahmar's house and that tribal fighters counterattacked.
Al-Ahmar, who is the leader of the Hashid tribal federation and a former supporter of President Saleh, joined the opposition in March. Saleh himself comes from the Hashid tribe.
Hundreds of Hashid fighters were moving in from outside Sana'a to al-Ahmar's house to protect it, a tribal official speaking on condition of anonymity said.
Witnesses say machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades were used during the fighting. There were also reports of huge explosions in the northern neighborhood, where a number of ministries are located.
A Yemeni official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Ahmar loyalists had taken over the trade and industry ministry as well as a religious school and that a Yemeni Airlines office building was set on fire and smoke belched out of a building inside the Interior Ministry compound.
The headquarters of the state news agency, Saba, was also attacked.
According to medical sources, at least 5 was killed and dozens wounded .
It was not immediately clear what caused the clashes, but some reports suggest that the fighting broke out after security forces tried to set up roadblocks between al-Ahmar's residential compound and the nearby Al-Rammah schoole which the tribes refused.
Abdel-Qawi al-Qabasi, an aide to al-Ahmar, however, said security forces were trying to storm al-Ahmar's house and that tribal fighters counterattacked.
Al-Ahmar, who is the leader of the Hashid tribal federation and a former supporter of President Saleh, joined the opposition in March. Saleh himself comes from the Hashid tribe.
Hundreds of Hashid fighters were moving in from outside Sana'a to al-Ahmar's house to protect it, a tribal official speaking on condition of anonymity said.
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