Witnesses: Security forces kill 2 in Yemen protests

According to witnesses in Harf Sofyan, Yemen, on Friday morning security forces opened fire on anti-government protesters, injuring nine and killing two others. The shooting began in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Moreover, three army planes were forced to fly over and attack the protesters, in order to produce a similar effect.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, a spokesperson for the protestors, stated that the majority of the crowd was composed of Houthi rebels, who have waged a separatist revolt since 2004 over which religious sect will command the region. Most members of this group are Shiite Muslims and follow slain Shiite cleric Hussein al-Houthi, while the majority of Yemenis are Sunnis.

Also in Sana'a anti-governament demonstrators held a sit-in demonstration in front of Sana'a University, calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down from office. The demonstrators were composed of students, women, tribesmen and members of the opposition in Aden Province. Moreover, similar protests are also occuring in the provinces of Mareb, Jawf, and Taiz.

By Aleksandra Ruseva

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/03/04/yemen.protests/index.html