With officials already reporting 54,000 civilians displaced in the south by fighting and growing economic hardships, more and more are on the move today as Yemeni army forces shelled several towns near Taiz.
Though most of the fighting in the south has centered around the Abyan Province and the territory held by Ansar al-Sharif, today’s attacks appear aimed simply at tribal forces loyal to the pro-democracy protesters in the capital city.
Taiz and the area around it have been the site of some of the largest protests outside of Sanaa. The towns attacked were populated by some of the tribes that have backed the northern tribes in calling for Saleh’s ouster and the introduction of free elections.
The Saleh regime has last control over much of the nation at this point, with several provinces entirely out of its control and several more only nominally retaining an official presence. Though it remains unclear what will come after, most of the nation seems to agree that it is ready for the current regime to fall.
Legitimate question: this isn't another one of those "Washington pressured them into it" wars is it?
This site is the only one that I know off to follow the events in Yemen without the aid of "human rights activists" , "bloggers" and other anti-regime sources. Mainstream media has a strange habit of either complete, uncritical reliance on such communications, or it IGNORES them completely, as is the case in Yemen.
The only comment I have is on the use of the word "south" in Yemeni context. Taiz may be "south" of the capital Sana'a, but in Yemen, "south" describes the territory of former independent country. Taiz and its environs are part of the original Yemen, prior to the annexation of former British colony. Sana'a regime has kept the region oppressed by force ever since. The current regime, enbodies by Saleh's familiy. But the real wonder is: how is it that they are allowed to use any means necessary to suppress the population? Tanks, helicopters, airforce — no outcry anywhere about "killing their own people". Wonders of our mainstream media never cease to amaze me!