Civilian death toll since uprising put at 2,000

Sana'a: At least 2,000 people have been killed and more than 22,000 injured since the beginning of the uprising against Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, the country's minister of human rights, Huria Mashhour, told Gulf News.

According to the official, the figures include civilians who were killed or injured during protests against Saleh's regime, fighting between government forces and tribesmen in the Arahab and Nahem districts and pedestrians killed in the streets.

Huria said: "143 children and 20 women died during the uprising according to initial statistics gathered by our ministry. The government is committed to handling the repercussions of the crisis which include taking care of the families of the dead and treating the injured."

The statistics are based on information from field hospitals and campsites of the protesters.

Detainees

The minister, who was among prominent figures who resisted Saleh's regime, admitted that some protesters remained behind bars and that her ministry is unable to help them. "There are many people still in jail despite efforts to secure their release. The military commission has the authority to release them and we are following up the case with them."

Huria said that the minister of legal affairs, political parties and human rights groups are currently discussing how the Transitional Justice Law can be invoked to investigate ill-treatment of protesters during the crackdown and look at ways of compensating victims.