… for the demonstrators. Who knows how sincere this is. But it’s a heartening sign in the wake of several attacks on protesters in the last week:
From Laura Kasinof:
After an escalation in violence between supporters and opponents of the Yemeni government in Sana, the capital, this week, President Ali Abdullah Saleh has instructed security forces to protect demonstrators and thwart clashes between the two sides.
“The directive demanded security services to offer full protection for the demonstrators. Furthermore, the government calls on protesters to remain vigilant and take all precautionary steps to prevent the infiltrations of individuals seeking to carry out violent actions,” Mr. Saleh said in a statement late Wednesday.
“The Government of the Republic of Yemen will continue to protect the rights of its citizens to assemble peacefully and their right to freedom of expression,” he said.
On Tuesday night, two anti-government protesters were shot dead by government supporters during a sit-in in front of Sana University. At least 10 others were injured by gunfire.
…
In Aden, Yemen’s southern port city where protests are routinely more volatile, at least 12 protesters have been killed in the past two weeks, according to Human Rights Watch.