Asia

Home page

Asia

Two killed in Yemen presidential palace clashes

09 October 2012 20:21 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least two people have been killed in clashes at Presidential Palace in the eastern Yemeni city of al-Mukalla, the countryâ€™s fourth largest city, APA reports.

Several others were also wounded in the clashes that erupted after a number of Republican Guard soldiers tried to sack a general loyal to former ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Since the downfall of Saleh’s regime in February, Yemenis are holding almost daily rallies, demanding the removal of elements loyal to him from power positions. Yemeni soldiers and officers have also staged several protests to demand restructuring of armed forces.

Yemenis say there will be no improvement in the country as long as Saleh loyalists and his family members are in control of power positions in the government, the military and security apparatus.

In a bid to end anti-Saleh protest rallies, Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi in April replaced nearly 20 senior military generals, including air force commander General Mohammed Saleh al-Ahmar, who is a half brother of Saleh, and the commander of Presidential Guard General Tariq Mohammed Abdullah Saleh, who is a nephew of Saleh.

Saleh, who ruled Yemen for 33 years, packed power positions in the government, the military and security apparatus with his supporters and relatives and even after his ouster they remained in their sensitive posts.