Heavy raids on Sanaa\'s Northern neighbourhoods Yemeni Republican Guard led by the President’s son have yet again renewed their raid on Friday afternoon on the Hasaba neighbourhood, where the tribe leader Sheikh Abdullah Al Ahmar’s house is located, and the home of his brother Vice President of the House of Representatives Humeir al Ahmar in Sofan neighbourhood, in addition to attacking the Eastern side where the base of the First Armored Division is based, hours after the invitation by President Saleh after his arrival to Sanaa to stop the clashes and engaging in a full truce to allow for political solution.
Identical sources told Arabstoday that very loud explosions could be heard which shook neighbourhoods in Hasaba and Sofan, north of Sanaa, and in the East where the base of the First Armored Division is based, although the same sources did not clarify the size of the injuries and losses caused by the attacks. They confirmed that heavy clashes took place in the southwestern Hael Street, and Kentucky in Al Zubairi Street between anti and pro revolution fighters. The leader of the Division Ali Al Ahmar announced his support for the revolution.
Yemen’s state news agency SABA reported that President Saleh, upon his return to Yemen, called on all political, security and military sides in both his government and the opposition to work together and cease fire in order to reach an agreement between all political sides. They explained that Saleh, who secretly returned to Yemen after spending months in Saudi Arabia, said that fighting will not solve anything, that dialogue is needed to solve matters for a secure and stable country.
Observers believe that the return does not represent a valid indication of easing the crisis in the country. Sources confirmed that Saleh will not sign the Gulf Initiative. Thousands of Yemenis performed Friday prayers in Sanaa despite heavy security presence. Participants confirmed that they will stand against this for as long as they can until their demands are met, and called on the National Assembly to save their nation and called on the international community to support the revolution and interfere to stop Saleh’s massacres against peaceful protestors. They also condemned Saudi Arabia for standing by Saleh.
The American Foreign Ministry advised the Yemeni President to sign the Gulf Initiative and hand over power. Spokeswoman for the Ministry Victoria Nolland said in a statement: “we want to see Yemen moving forward according to the gulf Initiative whether the Yemeni President is inside or outside of the country. She pointed out that Saleh can achieve this by signing the Initiative and stepping down from power.”
Catherine Ashton, the Vice-president and high representative of the Union for foreign affairs and security policy, called on Saleh and all parties in Yemen to avoid violence and reach a peaceful political agreement based on the gulf Initiative. She also called, in statement issued from her office, on all Yemeni parties to put the country’s best interest as top priority, pointing out that this change will affect the economic, social and societal areas of the country and benefit and improve the living conditions of its people.