SANA'A, Yemen, April 1 (UPI) -- Yemeni tribes are denying reports from political opponents of fighting between the army and al-Qaida militants in the north portion of the capital, Sana'a.
Representatives of the tribes said in an Internet statement that reports of clashes were groundless and were likely a ruse to bolster former President Abdullah Ali Saleh's standing with the international community.
"The former president is only trying to scare off the international community and justify the position of his son, Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh as head of the Republican Guards," said the statement.
BikyaMasr.com said the tribes had been opposed to Saleh's regime. Saleh still runs the General People's Congress.
Saleh also runs Yemen Today television, which has been airing videotape it says shows al-Qaida insurgents operating in Sana'a with the backing of local tribes. Yemen's military has responded with artillery attacks on several tribal settlements.
