Protesters Storm Palace In Yemeni City Taiz

[ellenrr]

Source: Sky News

Gunmen have attacked the presidential palace in Yemen's second city Taiz, killing four soldiers in an attempt to storm the compound, according to witnesses.

One of the attackers - who reportedly belong to a group set up to avenge the killing of anti-regime protesters - has also died in the violence.

The assault comes as witnesses in the capital Sanaa also reported heavy gunfire and explosions despite a week-long, Saudi-brokered ceasefire agreed on Saturday.

The ceasefire deal was originally reached hours before Yemen's president Ali Abdullah Saleh left for Saudi Arabia where he will be treated for wounds he sustained in a rocket attack on his compound on Friday.



Read more: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/President-Saleh-Arrives-In-Saudi-Arabia-For-Treatment-After-Fridays-Rocket-Attack/Article/201106116005702?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_3&lid=ARTICLE_16005702_President_Saleh_Arrives_In_Saudi_Arabia_Fo

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Analysts speculate that the pres. probably will not return and that his son will attempt to take over.

[dipsydoodle]

1. Yemeni celebrations follow Saleh's Saudi trip

Pro-democracy protesters are celebrating what they described as the fall of the Yemeni government after President Ali Abdullah Saleh left the country for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

"Today, Yemen is newborn," sang dozens of youths in Sanaa's University Square on Sunday, dubbed "Change Square", which has been the epicentre of anti-government protests that have raged since February.

"This is it, the regime has fallen," others chanted.
Yemen live blog

In Yemen's second-largest city Taiz, a flashpoint of anti-government demonstrations south of the capital Sanaa, hundreds also celebrated, chanting: "Freedom, freedom, Ali has fled".

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/20116583530542599.html

On Al Jaz live footage there is something else going on out there now because the soldiers appear to be celebrating with the protestors - Al Jaz couldn't make out quite what was going on.

[pinboy3niner]

2. Accuracy of reports Saleh was injured in "rocket attack" questioned

From The Guardian's news blogs:

Brian Whitaker is keeping busy today. This just-posted comment underneath this blog is worth putting in full here:

May I suggest that we stop saying it was a rocket attack that hit Saleh? Yemeni officials have certainly said it was, but they may have ulterior motives for saying so, and in any case they have not proved very reliable on the question of Saleh's health.

Because of the accuracy of the attack there is speculation in Yemen that it could have been an inside job, ie a bomb placed within the presidential compound.

At present, we don't know for sure either way.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/middle-east-live/2011/jun/05/yemen-libya-syria-middle-east-unrest#block-30