This after months of nearly nothing from Yemen:
"Yemeni president dismisses Cabinet to ease tension" by Ahmed Al-Haj | Associated Press September 03, 2014
SANA, Yemen — The Yemeni president on Tuesday dismissed the Cabinet, including the prime minister who led it for two years, while partially reversing an earlier decision to end fuel subsidies amid a standoff with Shi’ites holding anti-government protests across the country.
Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi made his decision during a meeting with the now outgoing government, representatives of political parties, and Parliament members, the official news agency SABA reported. The decisions came in response to an ‘‘initiative’’ submitted by a presidential committee formed by Hadi to examine peaceful resolutions for the Yemeni crisis.
‘‘The nation is passing through tough times,’’ the agency reported Hadi as saying during the meeting. ‘‘It is standing at a crossroads: either walk the path of life, development, and a new Yemen, or chaos, lawlessness, and the unknown.’’
Hadi pledged to represent the interests of the Yemeni people as a whole and not particular factions or groups. He said he would appoint a new prime minister within a week, after which political parties will nominate Cabinet ministers from their own ranks. Hadi will appoint defense, interior, finance, and foreign ministers, SABA said.
Shi’ite opposition spokesman Mohammed Abdel-Salam said his group rejected the move and would continue to pressure the government. ‘‘We are not giving in . . . but we will also not shut the door to dialogue.’’
Faris al-Saqqaf, Hadi’s political adviser, told the Associated Press the group, known as Hawthis, had surprised him by reacting in what he described as a harsh and swift manner.
‘‘It shows that the Hawthis have other goals and are using the subsidies as a pretext to execute another agenda,’’ he said. On Monday, Hadi alleged that there are ‘‘countries in the region that want to create chaos in Sana and burn it like Damascus and Baghdad are burning now’’ — a thinly veiled reference to Iran, which he says supports Hawthis.
Pffft!
Hadi’s decision comes a day after Hawthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Hawthi escalated the confrontation with Hadi by calling for civil disobedience against the government. He also urged the expansion of mass protests that have disrupted life in the capital for over two weeks. The group had been demanding the government to step down and reinstate fuel subsidies.
Fuel prices nearly doubled after the subsidy cuts, but the reaction on the street was limited when it was announced in July. Some say the Hawthis are using the issue as a cover and just want to seize power.
The Hawthis’ ability to mobilize tens of thousands in the capital and set up sit-ins near several ministries has put security authorities on alert. A senior security official said Hawthis are plotting a Ukrainian-style revolution in the capital.
Then it is another U.S. coup.
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"Yemen rebels restore sit-in, blocking airport road" | Associated Press September 08, 2014
SANA, Yemen — Yemeni security forces briefly broke up a sit-in by Shi’ites blocking the capital’s airport road Sunday, only to have protesters return and keep the main highway closed after the first violence of a weekslong antigovernment protest.
Using water cannons, bulldozers, and tear gas, security forces charged at hundreds of protesters, who responded by throwing rocks, security officials said. One person died in the clashes, hospital officials said, while dozens suffered from exposure to tear gas.
Protesters only had rocks? A hallmark of uncontrolled opposition.
At one point, protesters commandeered a bulldozer, a water cannon truck, and an armored vehicle from the security forces, a witness said, adding that one protester snatched a machine gun from a soldier on an armored vehicle near the Interior Ministry, also on the airport road. Troops fired several warning shots in the air.
The Hawthi rebels had earlier escalated their protests by moving to the road leading to the strategic airport, setting up tents near the Communications Ministry and blocking traffic into Sana from the south and west.
They have been demanding that the government resign and reinstate fuel subsidies. Negotiations have failed to diffuse the standoff.
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"Yemen fears Al Qaeda attacks amid deadly protests" Associated Press September 12, 2014
SANA, Yemen — Yemeni officials said Thursday that security forces have gone on high alert, fearing that Al Qaeda members are streaming into the capital, where a Shi’ite rebel group’s demonstrations have turned deadly.
PFFFFFFFFFTT!!!!
The reports of Al Qaeda infiltration came as the government sought international mediation in reaching a peaceful resolution to its conflict with the Shi’ite rebel group known as the Hawthis, which clashed with police in the capital Sana this week.
Officials fear that Sunni extremists will exploit the state of unrest in Sana and attempt to seize government institutions. The country’s top intelligence officials convened Thursday to discuss information about possible Al Qaeda attacks, security officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Thousands of supporters of the Hawthis have been holding sit-ins demanding the reinstatement of fuel subsidies and the formation of a new government.
At least four people were killed this week when gunfire broke out as police moved to stop protesters from marching on the prime minister’s office. Protesters and police traded blame for the violence, which raised the prospect of a wider conflict.
Presidential adviser Faris al-Saqqaf said a deal between the government and rebels is possible following the United Nations envoy to Yemen’s talks with President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and Hawthi leaders.
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Ever notice when it is an unapproved of protest or people's movement the term terrorist is nearly always attached?
