Saleh's nephew quits as commander of key brigade

Sana'a: The defiant nephew of the former Yemen president Ali Abdullah Saleh, Tareq Mohammed Abdullah, quit as the commander of the Republican Guard's 3rd Brigade, UN special envoy to Yemen, Jamal Bin Omar announced yesterday.

Having previously refused to comply with the recent military shake-up, Saleh willingly handed over his office to his replacement Abdul Rahaman Al Halili.

Bin Omar said that the hand-over of the brigade's office took place in line with Yemen president's decrees. Bin Omar expressed his confidence that Yemen president and Yemenis will cope with the security difficulties.

Fighting

"It is time for ending army division, reconstructing the army and kicking off a comprehensive national dialogue which will lead to a new constitution and an election in 2014." Bin Omar said.

In the south, meanwhile, fighting continued between army troops backed by local armed civilians and Al Qaida militants in Loawder town, an eyewitness told Gulf News.

Abdullah Al Subeit, the spokesperson of local fighters in Loawder , said that at least 12 Al Qaida operatives were killed on Wednesday when airplanes struck their position near Loawder.

"Al Qaida shells our city with mortars and this week they killed three young women. We are determined to defend our city and will occupy it over our bodies."