At least 10 people were killed Saturday in fierce clashes in Yemen’s capital between President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s troops and rival forces in escalating violence, a day after the UN Security Council urged the embattled leader to hand over power.
Witnesses in Sanaa said explosions were heard throughout the day in Sanaa, and massive plumes of smoke and fire were seen rising from several neighbourhoods where opposition forces are stationed.
An AFP correspondent said ambulances raced out of the Hasaba district that is home to tribal chief Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar and his brothers, whose tribesmen have been battling Saleh’s troops for weeks. The war-torn district has become a ghost town, sealed off by Saleh’s troops, with no one allowed in or out, according to an AFP correspondent on the scene.
Medical officials said five civilians were killed during intense shelling north of the Hasaba district in Sanaa.
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Nato plans to end Libya ops at end of Oct.
David Brunnstrom
Brussels, Oct. 22
Nato plans to end its seven-month air and sea campaign in Libya at the end of October, secretary-general Ande-rs Fogh Rasmussen said on Friday, the day after the death of Muammar Gaddafi.
Mr Rasmussen said that a meeting of Nato ambassadors in Brus-sels set October 31 as a provisional date to end the mission and a formal decision would be made next week.
He said the mission would be wound down in the period until the end of the month. Nato officials said the formal decision would be based on the perception of the security situation after the transitional authorities declared the formal liberation of Libya, something they say they plan to do on Sunday. Mr Rasmussen said Nato had no intention to keep forces in Libya after the end of the month. — Reuters