Follow our ongoing reports from San`a, Yemen on our Twitter feed here (hashtag: #JadYemen) or in the right column of our homepage. For historical and contemporary background to today`s event, visit Jadaliyya`s Yemen Page.
Here`s what we have so far on the feed from both yesterday (June 3) and today (June 4). If electricity holds where our reports are coming from, we`ll keep at it.
Jadaliyya Tweets from San`a, Yemen
Friday June 3
[10:15 AM EST]
- Conflicting reports of Saleh`s injury/death during an attack on mosque within presidential palace.
- Suheil TV in Yemen reported Saleh dead. AP reports he has a head wound. GPC (ruling party) claims he is fine and will be on tv within hour.
- Saleh was in presidential palace mosque with circle . Attack might have been retaliation for that on homes of Ali Muhsin and Hamid al-Ahmar
- In mosque with Saleh: PM Mujawar, Speaker of Parliament al-Raei, two Deputy PMs, and son of San`a Governor. All reportedly injured.
[2:00 PM EST]
- Streets are empty. Those who have left for other countries or for village probably already left; everyone is staying in their homes.
- On way out of neighborhood saw armed men setting blockades & standing guard. Hoping neighborhood watch, not GPC or tribesmen staking claim.
- Houses that are being attacked now are empty, the occupants have long ago fled to safer parts. So it`s only the residents who are suffering.
- Correction: Mohsen`s house was not attacked. Hamid al-Ahmar`s house in Hadda was hit after the attack on the mosque of presidential palace.
- They may play recorded message instead of live one, but this is all rumor. Regardless, long time and no Saleh appearance. A bit suspicious.
- More news of armed men in other neighborhoods blocking movement. People don`t recognize them. Maybe residents or waiting to make their move.
[2:10 PM EST]
- First implication of Ali Mohsen responding: military infighting and thus lots of people, lots of big guns, lots of blood.
- Second implication of Ali Mohsen responding: rest of Hashed tribe will be pulled into the war.
- Right now, the al-Ahmars managed to pull in the Osaimat tribe from the Hashed confederation, but rest of Hashed is sitting the fight out.
- Saleh probably assured rest of Hashed that he wouldn`t kill al-Ahmar boys. If Ali Mohsen drawn in, Hashed will likely need to choose sides.
[3:00 PM EST]
- Unconfirmed rumors of injuries sustained in mosque within presidential palace.
- President Ali Abdullah Saleh burned on face; Deputy Prime Minister for Internal Affairs Abu Ras burned on face with one/both legs amputated.
- Former Prime Minister and Speaker of Shura Council Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani burned on face.
- Deputy Prime Minister for Security and Defense Affairs Rashad al-Alimi burned and maybe suffered broken legs.
- Speaker of Parliament Yahya al-Raiee and Prime Minister Ali Mujawar both injured.
- Saleh never spoke. Instead, the Deputy Minister of Information delivered some speech; said Saleh can`t come b/c he is "too scratched up."
- Deputy Minister of Information confirmed in his statement that three guards were killed.
- We heard (unconfirmed) that the Imam of the mosque was killed or critically injured. Presumably, the big guys were praying up front.
- Governor of Sana`a Duade is in critical condition.
- Fighting near Kentucky Roundabout outside Change Square. Riot police always posted there. Reports water cannons being used re protesters.
[3:20 PM EST]
- Saleh blames al-Ahmar for today`s attack on Presidential Palace.
- Hadda district in total darkness with power cut after long day of fighting. Neighborhood watches set up in most neighborhoods.
[3:25 PM EST]
- Kentcky Roundabout is at cross street of Zubeiry St. and Ring Rd. and is at the border of Saleh territory and Mohsen territory.
- In phone call Saleh didn`t wish hasty recovery to 3 injured: al-Alimi, Abu Ras (both Deputy PMs) & Duaid (Governor of Sana`a). Dead?
[3:45 PM EST]
- Saleh says that the attack on the Palace today has nothing to do with the protesters.
[3:55 PM EST]
- Suhail TV (run by al-Ahmar) claims that three explosions rock Special Forces right now.
[4:15 PM EST]
- Hadda district generally quiet (eerily quiet). Rumor of ceasefire.
- Suhail TV (al-Ahmar) announces 2 regiments from 4th Brigade defecting & joining 1st Armored Division (General Ali Mohsen).
[6:10 PM EST]
- We`re ending today`s live updates from Yemen. Depending on developments and access to our affiliate, we hope to resume when appropriate.
[6:30 PM EST]
- Protesters in Taiz retook Freedom Square and took up arms. Yemen protests no longer just peaceful but also part armed rebellion.
Saturday, June 4
[8:35 AM EST]
- Taiz Chief of Police responsible for Taiz massacre Abdullah Gayran dead or critical after assassination attempt yesterday.
- Top govt officials injured in yesterday`s palace attack are in Saudi for medical treatment.
- Rumors that Saleh is with govt officials in Saudi for medical treatment, Saudi and Yemeni officials deny.
- Reports of fighting inside the Prez Palace last night, increasingly looking like blast was an inside job.
- People out in Hadda, lots of noise yesterday, little apparent damage. Mohsen`s buildings seem unharmed, windows intact.
- Marib Press (opposition paper) reporting Saleh has severe burns on his face, shrapnel in his chest and burns on his feet.
- Saleh has bad burns and broken rib but nothing life threatening. None of his Saleh sons or nephews were badly injured.
- Ali Saleh al-Ahmar still in Prez Palace with Saleh, so rumors that he planned blast unlikely.
- Saleh talking about signing GCC Initiative (yet again).
[7:45 PM EST]
What we know for sure is that President Ali Abdallah Saleh is in Saudi Arabia and VP Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi is in charge (AJ reports he is currently both Acting President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces). Unconfirmed reports (though likely) are that the VP has convened a meeting with certain ruling party officials to discuss next steps. Unconfirmed rumors that Ali Mohsen has submitted his resignation to the VP as per the "if you go I go" agreement he had with Saleh. Al-Arabiya reported that the President Saleh has suffered injuries but walked off the plane himself. Reports are that he was accompanied by 35 people on his plane and that a second plane with 24 members of his family is following behind.
Otherwise, fighting is still ongoing in Hasaba District in Sana`a and in Taiz. Yemen TV is still reporting their usual stuff. Sana`a is still pretty tense. Many roads are blocked, with armed soldiers and tribesmen still maintain a heavy presence. I know of one reported looting in Sana`a (a friend`s house was looted) but no other reports of looting in Sana`a. So it may be isolated incident.
While people in Change Square are celebrating, it`s also very confusing. Saleh the man may be gone but what about Saleh the regime? And what`s next? On the bright side, since the bombing yesterday, we`ve had uncharacteristically long periods of uninterrupted electricity.
In Taiz, the Khalid Bin Walid barracks, the largest barracks in Taiz, defected today. Central Security forces have also completely pulled out of the city`s streets, though the Republican Guard still maintains a presence. After news of Saleh`s departure, Taiz broke out in celebrations and fireworks. There are reports of looting in Taiz and that the protesters are now organizing committees to address security issues.
With respect to the bombing of the mosque in the Presidential Palace, it is unconfirmed but likely that it was planted rather than projectiled into the mosque. I don`t know the level of sophistication of the bomb, but understand that when it exploded it released nails and other shrapnel. Many of the injuries sustained are a result of these projectiles, including the rumored shrapnel that is lodged near Saleh`s heart. Supposedly, that`s the reason he needed to leave to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment (as opposed to plastic surgery for his disfigured face; or someone sticking a gun to his head and making him leave).
[To be updated . . . ]