A car bomb thought to have been set off by a suicide attacker killed three Yemeni security personnel Friday in the southern city of Aden, the government said, as residents grow fearful of a possible attempt by Islamic militants to seize control of the strategic port city.
The government quickly said it suspects al-Qaeda, but opponents have accused the regime of exaggerating the al-Qaeda threat to try to hang on to Western support.
Tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators in Aden and across the nation again held weekend rallies against President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
BAHRAIN: Top Shiite cleric assails life sentences for protesters.
Bahrain’s top Shiite cleric sharply criticized the life sentences given to eight opposition leaders for their role in anti-government demonstrations in this gulf kingdom.
Sheik Isa Qassim’s sermon was the latest signal that Shiite leaders could snub Sunni rulers’ appeals for dialogue next month amid the crackdown in Bahrain.
LIBYA: Red Cross ship returns scores of rebel detainees.
Dozens of detained rebels returned on a Red Cross ship to their eastern stronghold of Ben ghazi, detailing how they were tortured at the hands of Libyan leader Moammar Khadafy’s forces.
The ship carrying 51 prisoners also brought back 249 people who wanted to be reunited with family in eastern Libya, a Red Cross spokeswoman said. It was not clear whether there had been a prisoner swap with the Khadafy government.
EGYPT: Supporters, opponents of Mubarak clash.
Dozens of supporters of Hosni Mubarak clashed with opponents of the ousted Egyptian leader in central Cairo, with some on both sides hurling rocks at each other. Police said 20 people were injured.
JORDAN: Rallies held to demand that prime minister quit.
About 1,000 Jordanians took to the streets across the country to demand the prime minister step down and reforms be sped up. The rallies drew fewer participants than they had earlier on in the six-month protest campaign.
Denver Post wire services
