Yemen slides towards civil war as president injured along with seven top officials in rebel rocket attack on palace

Yemen slid further towards civil war after the country's President Ali Abdullah Saleh was wounded in an opposition rocket attack on his presidential palace yesterday.



Seven other officials were also injured while six guards were killed, according to an official.

Among those hurt were both Prime Minister Ali Muhammad Mujawar and his deputy Rashad Al-Alimi alongside the Speaker of the country's parliament.



Injured: Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh suffered neck wounds when his presidential palace was attacked. Other officials were more seriously hurt

Reports suggest Al-Alimi suffered serious injuries and was unconscious, while Nooman Dweid, the governor of capital city Sanaa, was the most badly hurt.

Saleh was reported to have suffered only minor injuries to his neck and was treated immediately .

Yemeni state television issued a statement claiming the nation's president was 'in good health' following the attack.

Their quick response came after an opposition station reported that Saleh had been killed in the shelling.

Protests: Hundreds of anti-government demonstrators make a hand gesture as they demand the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh

In mourning: Protesters carried the coffins of 50 people they said were killed by Saleh's forces before Friday prayers this morning

It was the first time that tribesmen have targeted President Saleh's palace in nearly two weeks of heavy fighting with government troops in the capital.

Their response came after government forces launched an intense artillery barrage at the homes of two tribal leaders and a top military general who also joined the opposition.

The nation is on the brink of civil war after two weeks of fighting between Saleh's troops and tribesmen loyal to Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar, head of the Hashid, Yemen's most powerful tribal confederation.

More than 370 people have been killed, at least 155 of them in the last 10 days, since a popular uprising against Saleh’s nearly 33 years in power began in January.





Huge turnout: Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Sanaa today

And before the attack on the palace, protesters paraded the coffins of 50 people it said were killed by Saleh’s forces.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators continue to mass daily in the central square of Sanna as well as other cities in the country.

On Thursday night, government forces opened fire on protesters in Sanaa, wounding three, and troops also fired on protesters in the city of Taiz, south of the capital, on Friday.





The fighting has intensified recently with tribesmen overrunning more than a dozen ministries and government buildings,



In response, government artillery has pounded Sanaa's Hassaba district where Sadeq al-Ahmar's residence is located.

Today troops expanded their shelling to the southern side of the capital, pounding the homes of two of al-Ahmar's brothers, Hameed and Himyar.



Standing guard: Yemeni soldiers watch over the protesters. On Thursday night, government forces opened fire on protesters in Sanaa, wounding three

Loyal: A group of armed government troops ride a pick-up truck through the streets of Sanaa

They also targeted the home of General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, the commander of the powerful 1st Armoured Division who has also joined the opposition but has so far stayed out of the battle.

He is not related to Sadeq al-Ahmar. The houses were destroyed, witnesses said.

Troops also attacked and burned the headquarters of a private TV station owned by one of the 10 al-Ahmar brothers. A building housing an airline office also was set alight.

Despite the gunfire and shelling, protesters swarmed into a Sanaa main street for Friday prayers and funeral processions.



The cleric delivering the prayer sermon said Saleh was trying to turn the popular uprising into a personal conflict.

Explosion have also been reported in the southern city of Taiz.

