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UN envoy warns of blocking Yemen’s power transfer as clashes in Sanaa kill 2 police

17 December 2011 01:55 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. UN envoy to Yemen Jamal bin Omar warned Friday all Yemeni parties against any attempt of hindering the implementation of a Gulf-brokered power transfer deal as clashes raged in the capital Sanaa, leaving at least two policemen killed, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The warning came on the eve of the withdrawal of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s forces and defected troops along with opposition militia from the streets of the capital under the United Nations-backed deal.

"The UN Security Council is closely following the peace process in Yemen and any party thinking it can block this process will face the consequences for its actions," bin Omar told reporters late on Friday.

"The United Nations wants to see Yemen and its streets owned by the Yemeni people, not militia or army forces," he said, adding that "the UN hopes the Yemeni people could enjoy their daily lives and the development of their community."

Bin Omar, who is on his seventh visit to the unrest-ridden Arab country to observe the implementation of the UN Resolution 2014 and the GCC initiative, met with all Yemeni sides to ensure the peaceful process of transferring power from Saleh.

Meanwhile, heavy clashes between forces loyal to Saleh and armed tribesmen of the opposition leader Sadiq al-Ahmar erupted in Hassaba district in downtown Sanaa late on Friday.

Witnesses and residents said a series of explosions followed by heavy clashes took place in the neighborhoods of Hassaba, near the interior ministry’s headquarters.

An official of the interior ministry told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that "three mortar shells hit the ministry’s building, killing at least two policemen guarding the ministry and injuring dozens, and the ministry’s building was partly wrecked."

The reason behind the clashes is still unclear.

Earlier in the day, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website that it is ready to carry out instructions of Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to remove all roadblocks and barricades from the streets.

Thousands of people have been killed or injured during months- long clashes in Sanaa. Tension relatively calmed down after Saleh signed the initiative and transferred power to his deputy Hadi last month in return for immunity.