Civil war fears grow in Yemen

A mourner shouts slogans as he waits with others for the coffins of an anti-government protester during a funeral in Sanaa. Snipers killed up to 42 protesters among crowds that flocked to a sit-in at Sanaa University after Friday prayers. Photo: Reuters
A mourner shouts slogans as he waits with others for the coffins of an anti-government protester during a funeral in Sanaa. Snipers killed up to 42 protesters among crowds that flocked to a sit-in at Sanaa University after Friday prayers. Photo: Reuters
Yemeni anti-government protesters carry pictures of people who were killed during a demonstration against Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh, outside the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Snipers killed up to 42 protesters among crowds that flocked to a sit-in at Sanaa University in Yemen after Friday prayers. The banner reads, "The Criminal". Photo: Reuters
A mourner reacts as he carries with others the coffin of an anti-government protester during a funeral in Sanaa. Mourners buried some of the 52 anti-government protesters shot dead by rooftop snipers after Muslim Friday prayers in the Arabian Peninsula state, where tens of thousands of people have protested for weeks against Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's three decades-long rule. Photo: Reuters
Mourners shout slogans as they wait for the coffins of anti-government protesters during a funeral in Sanaa. Mourners buried some of the 52 anti-government protesters shot dead by rooftop snipers after Muslim Friday prayers in the Arabian Peninsula state, where tens of thousands of people have protested for weeks against Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's three decades-long rule. Photo: Reuters
A Yemeni girl reacts during the funeral procession of anti-government protestors killed in Friday's clashes with Yemeni security forces, in Sanaa,Yemen. The US-backed president of Yemen suffered a devastating political blow when his own powerful tribe demanded his resignation, joining religious leaders, young people and the country's traditional opposition in calls for an end to his three decades in power. Photo: AP
Mourners shout slogans as they wait for the coffins of anti-government protesters during a funeral in Sanaa. Snipers killed up to 42 protesters among crowds that flocked to a sit-in at Sanaa University after Friday prayers. Photo: Reuters
A US national of Yemeni origin displays his US passport as he shouts slogans during a funeral for anti-government protesters in Sanaa. Mourners buried some of the 52 anti-government protesters shot dead by rooftop snipers after Muslim Friday prayers in the Arabian Peninsula state, where tens of thousands of people have protested for weeks against Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's three decades-long rule. Photo: Reuters
Mourners pray during the funeral of anti-government protesters in Sanaa. Snipers killed up to 42 protesters among crowds that flocked to a sit-in at Sanaa University after Friday prayers. Photo: Reuters
Mourners carry the coffins of anti-government protesters during a funeral in Sanaa. Snipers killed up to 42 protesters among crowds that flocked to a sit-in at Sanaa University after Friday prayers. Photo: Reuters

Published Mar 21, 2011

A top general threw his support behind protesters on Monday and warned Yemen could slip into civil war, after snipers shot dead dozens of demonstrators. General Ali Mohsen, a powerful figure close to President Ali Abdullah Saleh, expressed support for pro-democracy protesters but stopped short of resigning or demanding that Saleh bring his 32-year rule to an immediate end.

Friday's killings of 52 anti-government protesters by rooftop snipers in Sanaa prompted Saleh to declare a state of emergency for 30 days that restricts freedom of movement and the right to gather and gives police more powers to make arrests.