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SANAA, Yemen – Fresh clashes in southern Yemen killed 17 al-Qaida militants andsix government troops, as thousands rallied Wednesday in thecountry's capital demanding the new president speed up reforms inthe military to purge it of old regime loyalists. Meanwhile, two civilians died when their car, which military andsecurity officials said was rigged by al-Qaida militants, explodedin the southern port city of Aden. In the capital Sanaa, some 10,000 protesters marched in the streetsurging President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi speed up military reformsand prosecute his predecessor, Ali Abdullah Saleh. The crowdchanted angrily that Saleh's fate will be like that of formerEgyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who was tried and sentenced tolife imprisonment in connection to killings of protesters in Egyptlast year. "Your fate will be like Mubarak's," the protesters chanted onChange Square, which has been the epicenter of Yemen's uprising,similar to Tahrir Square in Cairo. Saleh stepped down after millions of Yemenis took to the streetslast year, demanding the longtime ruler leave power. Al-Qaida exploited the country's political turmoil and securityvacuum amid the uprising against Saleh, gaining significant groundin the south. A military offensive in the past weeks has tried touproot the militants from their hideouts. Fierce battles have continued in the southern city of Zinjibar, theprovincial capital of Abyan that al-Qaida seized last year.Military and medical officials said the fighting continuedovernight and early Wednesday, leaving 17 militants and sixsoldiers dead. The clashes were among the fiercest since themilitary launched the campaign against the terror network on May12. The army claims it is now in control of almost 90 percent ofZinjibar but is still fighting al-Qaida in the northern part of thecity. In Aden, officials said militants planted explosives in a car of aman they suspected of being a government informer. The blast killedhim and his traveling companion, and wounded a third man. Theofficials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were notauthorized to talk to the media, said the injured man was taken tohospital. Al-Qaida's branch in Yemen, known as al-Qaida in the ArabianPeninsula, is one of the movement's most dangerous offshoots, andthe U.S. considers the impoverished country as a key battlegroundin the war against al-Qaida. The United States has thrown itssupport behind the new leader, Hadi, who has vowed to combatal-Qaida as a top priority. I am an expert from window-rollerblinds.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Patterned Roller Blind Manufacturer , China Indoor Window Shutters, Fabric Roller Blind,and more.
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