Talk about falling like dominoes. The Arab countries of the Middle East are facing crisis after crisis. And it all started with those anti-government demonstrations in Tunisia.
BBC
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has said there could be a civil war in Yemen because of attempts to stage what he called a coup against his rule.
“Those who want to climb up to power through coups should know that this is out of the question. The homeland will not be stable, there will be a civil war, a bloody war,” he said.
Army officers expressed their support for pro-democracy protesters on Monday.
Armoured vehicles from both sides are on the streets.
Two soldiers reportedly died on Tuesday in clashes between the army and the elite Republican Guard in the south-eastern city of Mukalla.
Key Yemeni General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, long close to President Saleh, on Monday said he was backing the protesters.
Two other senior army commanders were also reported to have resigned.
There have been weeks of anti-government protests in Yemen.
- President Ali Abdullah Saleh in power since 1978
- Population 24.3m; land area 536,869 sq km
- The population has a median age of 17.9, and a literacy rate of 61%
- Youth unemployment is 15%
- Gross national income per head is $1,060 (£655) (World Bank 2009)
