Opposition sources said Saleh forces deployed snipers to shoot
protesters in Sanaa. They said the regime units consisted of the Republican
Guard and Central Security Forces, the former commanded by Saleh's son,
Ahmed.
"It's as if he [Saleh] was unleashed from a cage and came out to
retaliate," opposition spokesman Mohammed Al Sabri said.
It was not clear how Saleh, injured in a rocket attack on his compound
in June, left the Saudi port of Jedda after three months of medical
treatment. Over the last few weeks, Western and Arab diplomats asserted that
Saudi Arabia and the United States agreed that Saleh would not be allowed to
return to Yemen.
"The security and humanitarian situation in Yemen can't take any more
delays," the Gulf Cooperation Council, which sought to mediate the end of
the civil war, said.
Saleh's forces also attacked the headquarters of the 1st Armored
Division as well as anti-regime tribal fighters in Sanaa. The sources said
at least 30 people were killed in mortar and machine gun fire.
Yemen's official news agency said the president has ordered the
elimination of all non-regime forces from Sanaa. The agency said Saleh
formed a committee headed by security chief Maj. Gen. Ghalib Al Qamish.
"The president gave orders to the committee to remove any military
presence, including roadblocks, checkpoints and the removal of armed men,"
the news agency said.
Diplomats said the Yemeni president was believed to have been urged by
Ahmed to return to Sanaa. They said Ahmed's forces were being opposed by
Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who was trying to arrange a
ceasefire.
"The vice president has been threatened by Saleh to leave Yemen
immediately," a diplomat said.
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