1 protester killed, 50 injured in clashes in Yemen

Xinhua, February 18, 2011

One protester was killed and about 50 were injured Thursday in clashes between police and anti-regime protesters in Yemen's capital of Sanaa and southern port city of Aden, local sources told Xinhua.

One protester was killed and about 50 were injured on Feb. 17, 2011, in clashes between police and anti-regime protesters in Yemen's capital of Sanaa and southern port city of Aden. [Xinhua]

Anti-riot policemen fired warning shots Thursday evening to break up a massive march of several thousands of anti-government protesters in Aden, killing one protester and injuring about 10.

"One anti-government demonstrator was killed by random warning shots of the police who tried to disperse the rallies in several districts of Aden, and at least 10 others were wounded during ongoing clashes with the soldiers," local councilman Ahmed Tahir told Xinhua.

This brought the death toll of protests in the country since Wednesday to three, after police's random gunfire killed Yaseen Askar, 19, and Mohammed Ali al-Alwani, a 17-year-old protester, during fierce clashes in Al-Mansoura district in Aden on Wednesday, according to medical sources.

In Sanaa, about 40 protesters were injured Thursday during clashes with pro-government backers wielding daggers and batons, said officials in the opposition coalition.

The clashes took place when more than 3,000 anti-government protesters, mostly students, gathered inside Sanaa University and marched to the south gate of the campus, where they clashed with pro-regime supporters.

Anti-riot policemen rushed to the scene in Al-Rubat street, trying to stop the clashes, and one policeman was seriously wounded, a police officer told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.