Rockets hit protesters camp in Sanaa

SANAA, Yemen, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Rockets struck a protesters' camp in Yemen's capital, killing at least two demonstrators and wounding 11, medical personnel said Tuesday.

Witnesses said at least 13 blasts were heard at Change Square in Sanaa and one strike was near a medical camp, CNN reported.

Abdul Rahman Barman, head of a local human rights organization, said Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime is attacking protesters and army personnel who defected and isn't distinguishing among civilians, protesters and gunmen.

"All are targets for the oppressive Saleh regime," Barman told CNN.

"Government troops are attacking armed militants who claim to be unarmed," government spokesman Abdu Ganadi said.

Medical officials said at least 36 people were killed in clashes Monday, raising the death toll from two days of fighting in the capital to more than 60. Nearly 1,000 people, mostly demonstrators, were injured in the two days.

Witnesses said snipers stood on rooftops around Change Square, the epicenter of anti-regime protests in Sanaa, shooting unarmed passersby with anti-aircraft guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. Government troops shelled areas held by soldiers who defected from the regime and supported the protesters, witnesses said.

The New York Times reported officials closed Sanaa's airport for a few hours on Monday.

Protesters have been seeking the ouster of Saleh, recovering in Saudi Arabia from explosions at his presidential palace three months ago. He has vowed to return to Yemen, despite repeated pledges to step down in a negotiated transfer of power.

Saleh has backed off his pledge to step aside at least three times.

The United States has been working behind the scenes to find a political resolution and ease Saleh out of office after 33 years in office. U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar and a Gulf Cooperation Council delegation were in Sanaa to speed up the negotiations.

Washington and other Western governments condemned Yemen's security force crackdown Monday and called on the country to abide by plans for a power-transfer deal.