Hundreds of Thousands Protest in Yemen

By HAKIM ALMASMARI

SANA'A, Yemen—One civilian was killed by government forces on the outskirts of the capital, while hundreds of thousands of youths demonstrated in cities across the country Saturday in opposition to an agreement last week that grants President Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution in return for leaving office.

"Martyrs wrote with their blood, that Saleh must stand trial," read a banner held up by protesters in the capital.

Yemen has seen some of the biggest demonstrations of the year in recent days, after Mr. Saleh signed the agreement following months of delay. The agreement, negotiated by neighboring Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, passes Mr. Saleh's powers to Vice President Abed-Rabbo Mansour Hadi and calls for a presidential election within 90 days.

While the international community has endorsed the deal, protesters and other opposition figures remained skeptical that Mr. Saleh is stepping back from power after ruling the country for 33 years. A senior Interior Ministry official said that Mr. Saleh contacted the interior minister twice over the past 36 hours to give orders on how to run certain matters, said the official.

The turmoil in Yemen threatens to overwhelm efforts to pull off a smooth transition of power from Mr. Saleh to a government that would share power more broadly. Under the power-transfer agreement signed in Riyadh days ago, Mr. Saleh retains his title but no authority.

Meanwhile, troops loyal to Mr. Saleh attacked several neighborhoods on the outskirts of the capital as skirmishes with opposition militias and tribal fighters continued.

"Our children and wives are being killed while Saleh is given immunity. Who will give me my children back if they are killed?" said Saleem Naser, a local of Nehm whose house has been destroyed in air raids.

An Interior Ministry official confirmed air raids on Nehm, a suburb of the capital, but wouldn't give details on why the attacks were conducted.

Government attacks on opposition tribal areas also continued Saturday morning in Bani Hushauish district, about 15 kilometers south the capital. Eyewitnesses said air raids continued for more than two hours. At least two civilians were injured, one of them a child and is in critical condition.

Also today, Yemen's opposition National Council officially chose Mohammed Basendowah as its candidate for prime minister in Yemen's first national government after Mr. Saleh's transfer of power.

According to the agreement, the opposition would nominate its candidate to lead the government while the vice president would accept the nomination as president and ask him to form the unified government.

via online.wsj.com