Yemen Erupts in Violence Again ,Yemeni Troops Kill 9 Protesters in Sana'a

On Saturday, forces loyal to Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh killed at least nine anti-regime protesters and injured 200 others in the capital, Sanaa.

Witnesses and medics say Yemeni forces opened fire to stop the march by tens of thousands of anti-government activists who reached Sanaa on Saturday, after a four-day journey from the city of Taiz, 270 kilometers to the south. Soldiers and police also fired tear gas and used water cannon to block marchers south of the capital.

The 270-kilometer long march, titled "March of Life," began on Wednesday. Moreover, the demonstrators are expected to attend a mass rally to reject the power transition deal which granted Saleh immunity from prosecution in return for resignation.

On Nov. 23, Saleh signed the power transition deal in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. According to the agreement, Saleh handed power to Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi in return for immunity from prosecution.

Meanwhile, President Ali Abdullah Saleh said he would soon visit the United States ahead of transferring power in February.

Speaking in Sanaa, Saleh said he will travel to the U.S. in the coming days: "Not for treatment, because I am well, but in order to create favorable conditions... for the presidential election," set for February 21.

Last week, the U.N. envoy to Yemen said Yemen’s president is in need of medical treatment that will require him to leave the conflict-torn country.

Last month U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that Saleh was planning to come to New York for medical treatment. In the end, Saleh never traveled to the United States.

Western diplomats told Reuters that Washington did not want to issue an entry visa to President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

In respect of the unity government, the national unity government, led by the opposition, on Saturday unveiled its program and made clear the country needs urgent help. "The government is going to try to convince its brother countries and friends to create a special international fund for Yemen," Prime Minister Mohammed Basindawa stated. In addition, the government will set up a fund to present monthly assistances for families of killed and wounded people and to hospitalize the wounded people abroad if required. It will also form committees to contact with youth movements all over the country to discuss and involve them in determining the country's future.

Moreover, Yemeni officials say unidentified gunmen killed British citizen of Yemeni origin and wounded a security officer in a shooting on a vehicle in the southern province of Hadramout on Saturday. One official blamed the attack on highway robbers.