President announces state of emergency, ban on carrying arms

SANA'A, March 18 (Saba)- President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced on Friday decision of the National Defense Council
to impose a state of emergency in the capital Sana'a and capitals of the governorates, in addition to banning carrying arms.
In a press conference held today, Saleh expressed his sorrow for the deaths and injuries took place today among citizens in Sana'a.
"There was a communication between Yemen and Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries for mediation to heal the rip among the political parties in Yemen," Saleh said, affirming
that what happened on Friday caused failure to these moves to bridge the gap and avoid bloodshed.
He renewed the early announced directives for all security systems to protect pro and anti- government sit-ins.
President expressed displeasure with the spread of anti-government protests in residential areas which annoys people living in such neighborhoods, pointing out that what
happened was a result of confrontations between the locals and the protesters.
He affirmed that police did not fire any bullet as they are anti-riots police and do not carry any weapons.
Saleh said that if the protesters want to continue their sit-in, they should find other areas away from residential areas to avoid confrontations with the locals.
"A committee from neutral bodies has been formed to investigate incidents in Sana'a, Aden, Taiz, Abyan, Mareb, Jawf and Hudeidah to reveal reasons behind the incidents and
to know who is responsible either the government or opposition," he said.
He considered those who were killed and injured as martyrs of democracy, affirming that the government will take care of their families.