Clashes erupt in Yemeni capital

Clashes have broken out between Yemeni security forces and the country’s Hashid tribe in the capital as a truce between the two sides appears to have failed.

Fighting erupted around the residence of the tribe’s leader Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar early Tuesday, AFP reported.

Reports also indicate that heavy exchanges of fire took place between the tribesmen and troops loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh around the headquarters of military police and official Saba news agency.

No casualties have yet been reported.

The Yemeni government has accused Sheikh al-Ahmar’s loyalists of breaking the truce. However, sources on the side of Sheikh al-Ahmar hold pro-Saleh forces responsible for breaking the truce by firing on the Sheikh’s compound.

According to Yemen’s defense ministry, the Hashid tribesmen took control of both the headquarters of ruling General People’s Congress party and main offices of a water utility.

A truce between Yemeni forces loyal to President Saleh and opposition tribesmen came into effect on Sunday after clashes broke out between Yemeni security forces and members of the Hashid tribe in the capital Sana’a on May 23.

Scores of tribesmen and regime forces were killed in clashes that took place after Saleh refused to sign a power transition deal brokered by the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for near daily demonstrations in Yemen’s major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment and demanding the ouster of Saleh, who has been in office since 1978.