President Saleh orders security forces to protect demonstrators

Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh has ordered his security forces to give protestors calling for his resignation "full protection". In an official statement released by State run Saba news agency, Saleh also instructed security to prevent direct confrontation between anti-government demonstrators and his supporters.

He called on both sides to take precautions against those who may try to infiltrate the protests and incite violence. It has been estimated that 15 people have been killed since the protests began two weeks ago. Several members of the ruling party have resigned over the government's handing of the demonstrations.

On Wednesday, security forces used tear gas and fired bullets into the air to disperse protesters in Aden, while two demonstrators were reportedly killed during confrontations in Sana'a. Thousands of Yemeni people have take to the streets to voice their frustrations over living standards, food prices and unemployment.

In a bid to appease the increasingly vociferous nation, Saleh has made some concessions and promised to step down when his term ends in 2013.

Sources: BBC News, Voice of America, New York Times

For more news and expert analysis about Yemen, please see Yemen Focus.

Yemen: AQAP attacks US embassy vehicle

Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is suspected of being ultimately responsible for an attack on a car used by members of the US embassy on their way to or from a restaurant in the diplomatic area. Media reports say a Jordanian, who was arrested at the scene, had exploded a satchel or grenade under the car (which was armoured). No Americans were injured.

The Jordanian had false identity documents and weapons in his vehicle. This was a timely reminder — not that Western residents need one – of the risks even in Sana'a. Earlier in 2010 there were attacks on the British ambassador and then the charge d'affaires. The AQAP attackers have not been arrested (though the first attack was by a suicide bomber).

There was a hit-and-run attack against a soldier in Abyan by a terrorist using a motorbike. This is the 28th such attack in the past few months and comes after efforts to place restrictions on the use of motorbikes. AQAP appears to have been responsible for an attack near Zingibar in Abyan, leading to the death of two soldiers manning a checkpoint, and a failed attack on a senior security officer in Abyan. He was on a list of targets AQAP distributed in September.

For more news and expert analysis about Yemen, please see Yemen Focus.

© 2010 Menas Associates