Yemen Elite Forces Clash With Armored Division Loyal to Al-Ahmar

Yemen’s elite Republican Guard forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh clashed today with members of the defected First Armored Division, killing at least one civilian, a local resident said.

The clashes took place in Shamlan in northwestern Sana’a, the capital, Majed Mahyoub said in a telephone interview today.

It is the first time the Republican Guard has engaged in direct confrontation with the First Armored Division since their commander Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar defected in March to support anti- government protests calling for Saleh’s resignation.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mohammed Hatem in Sana’a at mhatem1@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net;