The office of a powerful Yemeni tribal leader says three of his supporters were shot dead in a tense neighbourhood in the capital, scene of intense fighting with government forces.
The officials and witnesses said snipers shot at the supporters of Sheik Sadeq al—Ahmar on Monday in the northern Sanaa’s Hassaba neighbourhood. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The shootings occurred despite an offer to withdraw government troops from the area after an attack on the presidential compound on Friday. President Ali Abdullah Saleh was wounded and is currently in Saudi Arabia for treatment.
A defecting military official said gunmen opened fire on their checkpoint late Sunday, leaving one of their members and the two attackers dead.
