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Yemeni tribesmen seize ministry, media office in Sanaa

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Armed tribesmen killed a dozen of servicemen and seized ministry and media offices in the capital Sanaa.

Armed tribesmen killed a dozen of servicemen and seized ministry and media offices in the capital Sanaa, Xinhua said on Tuesday.

Talks between security officers and gunmen are currently underway.

"Armed tribesmen, who are from the most powerful tribe in Yemen, took control of the ministry of industry and trade and the official Saba news agency after fierce clashes with local guards and government forces on Monday afternoon," the Chinese news agency reported, citing a Yemeni interior ministry source.

A total of 14 servicemen are believed to have been killed in clashes with gunmen from the Hashid tribe, and 36 were injured.

A Saba representative said about 50 employees were still blocked in the agency's building, but all female staff members were evacuated.

A source in the ministry said the gunmen opened fire at the ministry, killing all the guards.

The tribesmen also attacked the headquarters of the national air carrier, Yemenia Airways, and a number of other government buildings, setting some of them on fire.

Situation remained tense in the Yemeni capital since Monday, when clashes between opposition supporters and pro-presidential forces renewed after a brief lull.

It was earlier reported that shooting took place near a tribal leader's house in northern Sanaa, leaving two of his supporters dead and 25 injured. Sadiq al-Ahmar, an opposition leader and the head of the Hashid tribe, has earlier called on the unpopular president Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down in order to prevent bloodshed in the country.

The Chinese agency reported on Monday that the presidential palace was attacked by servicemen, loyal to the opposition. The shooting between opposition supporters and security officers claimed the lives of at least five people.

Anti-government protests against 33-year leader Saleh have been in full swing for nearly four months. Government forces have used arms to dispel protesters. Western media have cited a death toll of at least 140.

The ruling party earlier approved an Arab-mediated national reconciliation deal, according to which Saleh was to resign within 30 days and hand power to the national unity government. The opposition criticized the deal for giving the president and his close relatives immunity from prosecution.

On May 6, opposition forces rejected the deal after Saleh refused to sign it personally.

MOSCOW, May 24 (RIA Novosti)

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