Explosions, heavy shooting reported in Sanaa, Yemen

Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh is calling for an end to months of street protests a start of dialogue during the
holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement published in the state news agency, Saleh said taking up arms and disrupting people’s daily lives won’t bring about change.

He released the statement from the Saudi hospital where he is being treated for wounds he suffered in an attack on the presidential compound in June.

Fierce clashes broke out between troops loyal to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and gunmen supporting youth protesters in the city of Taiz in southern Yemen.

Pro-Saleh troops earlier shelled some villages in the northern part of the Taiz governate, justifying the action by stating that gunmen were there.

Video footage obtained by Al Jazeera shows images of the shelling of some houses in al-Hashama village in al-Taezziya province, where villagers said pro-Saleh troops had staged the attack in the last few days.

Sources tell Al Jazeera that Yemeni security forces have shelled the city of Taez with heavy artillery, and armed gunmen have stormed a square where tribesmen were protesting against Ali Abdullah Saleh’s government.

Tens of thousands of Yemenis protested in the capital Sanaa on Monday, accusing the authorities of plotting a takeover by extremists of the southern province of Abyan, the AFP news agency reported.

The demonstrators marched towards the residence of Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, chanting slogans accusing the authorities of “facilitating the takeover by Al-Qaeda elements” of Abyan. A five-strong delegation representing the protesters was blocked by guards outside the residence.

In the letter, the protesters urged Hadi to bring an end to what they called “the joke” in Abyan and to take “all necessary measures to protect people” there.

They also demanded that the government reinforce troops fighting alleged Al-Qaeda militants in Abyan.