Violence escalates in Yemeni capital

SANAA, Yemen, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Government forces clashed with opposition groups and explosions rocked Yemen's capital of Sanaa Monday, witnesses said.

Rocket, mortar and heavy machine-gun fire was reported.

The military has been fighting forces loyal to Gen. Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar, the rebel commander who joined anti-regime protesters earlier this year, Gulf News reported.

Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Sanaa last week, calling for a U.N. resolution supporting a change in government. President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in a speech Sunday, accused Western leaders of failing to understand the situation in his country.

The New York Times said the United Nations may vote this week on a resolution that is expected to call on Saleh to leave office.

The Times said about a quarter of Sanaa was under control of opposition groups.

At least 12 demonstrators were killed Saturday when they approached a checkpoint near the Foreign Ministry, the newspaper said. A woman was shot in the head Sunday in the city of Taiz, prompting thousands of Yemeni women to protest Monday at the Foreign Ministry. They said she was intentionally shot by snipers, CNN reported