Protests in Yemen turn deadly

SANAA, Yemen, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Yemeni security forces Saturday attacked thousands of anti-government demonstrators, killing at least 10 of them, witnesses and activists said.

While Vice President Abdu Rabu Hadi's office told CNN the security forces were directed to disperse the crowd without harming anyone, witnesses said the protesters were beset by gunfire, water cannons and tear gas.

"Everyone here is screaming, blood and tear gas [is] everywhere," protester Murad Merali told the U.S. news network. "[President Ali Abdullah] Saleh's forces are shooting with snipers. They are blocking streets and attacking women, tearing their hijabs. It's a war zone out here, smoke is everywhere. Soldiers also have batons."

Mohammed al-Qubati, a medic in Sanaa's Change Square, said the day's death toll had reached 10 people with dozens more injured.

The marchers had spent four days walking 155 miles from Taiz to the capital to register their dissatisfaction with Saleh and his regime's brutal crackdown on opposition protesters, Sky News reported. The protesters demand Saleh not be granted immunity and instead be brought to trial, the British news broadcaster said.

Presidential elections are slated for Feb. 21.

"Our rally rejects the immunity to Saleh and his regime members and we are calling for him to be put on trial for the killing of protesters," Munther al-Asbahi told Sky News.

News Yemen reported the violence started Friday with several protesters wounded by gunmen loyal to Saleh, who has been in power since 1978. The news outlet said gunmen opened fire and threw stones at the marchers, wounding five.