TAIZ, Yemen, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- At least 11 people, including two children, were killed Friday in fighting between the Yemeni government and opposition forces, authorities said.
Medics said dozens were injured in fighting in Taiz that coincided with the arrival of United Nations envoy Jamal Benomar, the BBC reported. Benomar visited the country's capital, Sanaa, Thursday to press Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to end his 33-year rule.
Protests against Saleh began in January when he failed to implement a transition of power he agreed upon under a peace plan put forward by Gulf Arab countries.
Yemeni forces began shelling a residential neighborhood in Taiz in response to protests that began Thursday.
"The shelling is non-stop and it seems as if President Saleh wants to completely destroy Taiz before he leaves power because it was the launching pad for protests against his regime," Ali al-Radhmi, a resident of Taiz, told CNN.
The government blamed opposition forces for killing two pro-government tribal leaders.
"The opposition does not understand that the current government is still the legal government and wants to put matters into its own hands. This is why these clashes are taking place and innocent people are dying," said an official who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity.
