Five Shot Dead in Sanaa Protests

At least five protesters were killed and dozens wounded on Tuesday as gunmen loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh opened fire at demonstrators in the Yemeni capital, an Agence France Presse journalist and medics said.

The bodies of two demonstrators were taken earlier to a makeshift hospital in Change Square, where anti-Saleh protesters have camped out, an AFP photographer said. Dozens of demonstrators were wounded or hurt by tear gas.

A medic said the death toll at the field clinic had risen to four.

Another dead protester was taken to the Republican government hospital, along with four others wounded, including one in serious condition, a medic there said.

Demonstrators came under fire from gunmen and police in Ziraa Street as they marched from Change Square to Al-Qaa neighborhood, which is controlled by Saleh loyalists, witnesses said.

Armed men loyal to Saleh had erected tents in the street to block the march. The protesters came under attack after passing the tents towards Al-Qaa, a district where government buildings are located.