Yemen military factions in murderous confrontation

Loyal to the Government armed men attacked the main rival of the Yemeni President forces killing one Wednesday at the beginning, and rearing of the popular unrest fears could evolve in battles rows between military factions.

Media State described the attack as a case of rapid reaction of the Government forces dissipate "provocative action" by major-General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, Commander of the 1st Armoured Division.

"The leader of the 1st Armoured Division is responsible for any attempt which could cause tensions of security", the Government statement said, raising the level of rhetoric between the two rivals of long date.

Military split of Yemen on 17 March, when President Ali Abdullah Saleh of the main rival for power, al-Ahmar, declared its solidarity with the protesters who were demonstrating for weeks the call for the overthrow of the President.

The move presented the troubling possibility of two well-equipped, stationed soldiers in the capital, fighting against him. Until the incident Wednesday at the start, however, he had been smooth.

Throughout the day, the capital was tense, with a security presence then usual higher on the streets and passers-by fearing that the conflict could spiral out of control.

"These clashes threaten the peaceful revolution." It is dangerous. If there is no compromise... the table could switch to everyone, "said Abdul-Rahman al-Rashed, Professor at the University of Dhimar in Sana'a and a political expert.

"It would be the last step in the regime." "The ordinary forces obey orders," he predicted, if the President was to continue a battle with the army.

Yemen was wracked by protests since mid-February on lack the country of freedoms and his extreme poverty. More than 120 people have been killed since the uprising began on February 11, inspired by popular revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt.

A protester bites a snake during a demonstration in the city of the South of Taiz Wednesday. (Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)

In the capital of the South of Aden, security forces clashed Wednesday with thousands of protesters who threw stones and tires, killing at least one person.

The army and riot police, backed by tanks and artillery, fired live bullets and tear gas in the port city, according to eyewitnesses. Medical officials said one person was killed and seven wounded.

Tens of thousands a also demonstrate in the capital Sanaa in some of the most important events to date for this poor nation that has already been undermined by the decrease of food supply, water and oil.

Until recently, the US authorities have expressed a degree of support for Saleh, but who was descendant of overwhelming popular opposition to his continued rule across the country.

Saleh is a close U.S. ally in the fight against al-Qaeda and a local franchise of the organization took root in the lawless backcountry of the Yemen, charting several unsuccessful attacks on America.

Later on Tuesday, armed plainclothes men armed from heavy machine-guns mounted on vehicles attacked the position of control North of the capital, controlled by men of al-Ahmar.

Local residents said they heard the sound of explosions, shots and saw flames shooting into the sky. Military authorities say the attackers were members of the Republican Guard and military police loyal to the President. Residents and officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The point control of the way to the northern province of Imran, a bastion of support for al-Ahmar of guards and may have been an attempt to stop more demonstrators hostile to the Government to jump in the city.

If the forces of al-Ahmar attempt to extract revenge for the attack, popular uprising of the Yemen could well become a style Libyan all out war, except with two evenly matched sides armed to the teeth with modern weapons.

Saleh has offered to resign his Office if an acceptable transfer of power is reached, but the opposition fears that it is fair to procrastination time.

The Gulf Cooperation Council six nations offered its own proposal Sunday to end the unrest and called Saleh to transfer power to his Deputy under an agreement with the opposition. The agreement does not, however, a calendar and included immunity from prosecution for Saleh and his family.

Opposition forces rejected the proposal.

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