Sanaa: Police stormed a protest camp in southern Yemen on Saturday, firing live rounds and tear gas that wounded at least 13 people as President Ali Abdullah Saleh's crackdown on dissent grows increasingly deadly.
The raid follows a dramatic escalation in violence on Friday, when security forces in the capital, Sanaa, killed at least 46 people and injured hundreds.
The attack suggests Saleh is fearful that the unprecedented street protests, set off by unrest across the Arab world, could unravel his 32-year grip on power in this volatile, impoverished nation.
The US, which has long relied on Saleh for help fighting terrorism, condemned the violence.
The bloodshed, however, failed to dislodge protesters from a large traffic circle they have dubbed "Taghyir Square" Arabic for "Change."
Hours after Friday's shooting, thousands demanding Saleh's ouster stood their ground, many of them hurling stones at security troops and braving live fire and tear gas.
Saleh declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency that formally gave his security forces a freer hand to confront demonstrators. The declaration bars citizens from carrying and using weapons.
Protesters on Saturday said police fired tear gas and live rounds before storming a protest camp in the southern port city of Aden. At least 13 were injured, among them three who suffered bullet wounds.
The attack was followed by clashes after thousands surrounded the al-Mualla police station trying to break in, but police were holding them off, firing in the air.
In Sanaa, soldiers in tanks and armoured personnel carriers took up positions at intersections and key buildings including the presidential palace, the state TV building and other government institutions.
The army also set up checkpoints where soldiers searched motorists and passersby near the encampment site next to Sanaa University.
Many of the victims in Friday's violence were shot in the head and neck, their bodies left sprawled on the ground.
They included a Yemeni photojournalist, Jamal al-Sharaabi, who is the first journalist killed in the unrest.
Friday's violence drew international condemnation. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "deeply troubled," said his spokesman, Martin Nesirky.
He "reiterates his call for utmost restraint and reminds the government of Yemen that it has an obligation to protect civilians."
"Those responsible for today's violence must be held accountable," President Barack Obama said. The US supports Yemen's government with $ 250 million in military aid this year alone to battle one of al-Qaida's most active franchises.
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