Government Forces, Tribesmen Clash in Yemen

Clashes between pro-government forces and loyalists to a powerful tribal leader have killed at least 38 people in Yemen's capital.

The French News Agency quotes residents in Sana'a who say automatic arms fire could still be heard early Wednesday.

On Tuesday, forces loyal to tribal chief Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar took control of several buildings while President Ali Abdullah Saleh's forces fired mortars at al-Ahmar's house.

Medical officials said 24 tribal loyalists were killed in Tuesday's unrest. Government officials reported the deaths of 14 soldiers.

The tribal chief's decision to engage his supporters in fighting against government forces marks an escalation in the nearly four-month-old anti-government uprising in Yemen.

On Tuesday, the Gulf Cooperation Council called for an immediate end to the fighting between security forces and tribesmen. The six-nation bloc had brokered a deal under which Mr. Saleh would resign and hand over power to a deputy. However on Sunday, the group suspended its efforts to mediate Yemen's crisis after Mr. Saleh refused to sign the deal for a third time.


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