Yemenis Protest against Violence, Saleh Immunity
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Yemen's capital on Wednesday to denounce violence a day after a failed attempt to assassinate the defense minister killed 12 people.
Protesters answering a call to demonstrate "against terrorism and assassinations" also slammed ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh whom they accuse of fuelling violence, and called for an end to his immunity from prosecution.
"Terrorism and al-Qaida are Ali Saleh and his sons," chanted demonstrators in the protest called by a group of activists from the Committee of Youth of the Peaceful Revolution.
"No immunity for the killer!" they shouted, referring to the immunity granted to Saleh and his aides under a Gulf-brokered deal last year in which he stood down, bowing to domestic and international pressure.
The protesters marched from Sittin Avenue in Sanaa's northern district past President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi's residence before gathering at Change Square, the focus of last year's protest movement in which hundreds of people died nationwide.
"Hadi, sack the rest, Hadi!" they chanted a day after the new president removed senior security chiefs seen as loyal to Saleh.
Among those removed was the head of the country's National Security force, Ali al-Anisi, and Saleh's half-brother Ali Saleh al-Ahmar, who was director of the office of the armed forces' top commander.
During his 33 years in power, Saleh chose his aides carefully, appointing relatives to head security services.
On Tuesday, a car bomb targeting Defense Minister Mohammed Nasser Ahmed ripped through a vehicle carrying his guards, killing seven, as well as five other people.
Ahmed survived the assassination bid that followed a Sunday announcement by defense ministry website 26sep.net that al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula's number two, Saeed al-Shehri, was killed by the army in east Yemen.
"This is Saleh's al-Qaida; it targets all the honorable and nationalist" leaders, activist Mahmud al-Sharaie told Agence France Presse during Wednesday's rally.
Anti-Saleh activists accuse him of instigating violence and secretly encouraging extremists to hamper the transition led by Hadi, who must restructure the security apparatus under the peace deal.
Source: Agence France Presse
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