Yemen tribe revolts capital

 Yemeni security and medical officials said 38 people were killed in fighting between powerful anti-Government tribes and the forces of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

A security officer, said 14 soldiers were killed in the fighting and 20 other people had disappeared. A hospital official, said 24 tribes were killed. The two spoke of officials on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

Most powerful tribal fighters and soldiers fire exchanged in the capital Tuesday, the Yemen with shells, mortars and launched street fighting. It is a rapid escalation in the uprising that threatens to become a revolt led by the militia after the failure of mediation obtain Saleh to resign from his duties.

Saleh appealed for a ceasefire.

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SANAA, Yemen (AP) - the most powerful fighters of tribes of the Yemen fired on government buildings and soldiers retaliated with heavy shelling Tuesday the uprising against President Ali Abdullah Saleh threatened to become a revolt led by the militia after the failure of the manifestations of street and mediation of Arabic.

Tribal leaders say at least seven militiamen were killed, but the full balance sheet did not know immediately as the heart of the capital has been transformed into a no-man s land with fire heavy artillery, mortar and artillery apparent Government forces.

Both sides traded blame for triggering the latest violence, deepen the gaps and suggesting Yemen could stagger towards a potentially bloody confrontation between well armed tribal militias and troops of pro-Saleh.

A statement by opposition groups accused Saleh of "drag the country to chaos." The Ministry of the Interior, criticized in turn, the "blood" on Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, the leader of greater tribe of the Yemen, called the Rashid.

Saleh has refused to resign despite three months of protests almost nonstop call for an end to his 32-year rule. He was also snubbed attempts by its Arab neighbours to negotiate his release.

But the decision taken by the tribe of al-Ahmar and others to take up arms significantly alters the balance.

The tribes of the Yemen are considered as essential allies for any Government to survive. Al-Ahmar and others had abandoned Saleh two months even though it is also a member of the clan Rachid. But the tribes decided to keep their weapons failed, then the Government forces fired on street demonstrations in the attacks which have claimed more than 150 victims.

Now, however, battles which began Monday can significantly increase the pressure on the regime of Saleh - either by encouraging clan leaders more to join the struggle or push military officials to abandon the Government.

"The defection of Sheikh al-Ahmar was a very hard blow to the Yemen that any leader because survives only well tribal support," said Faris al-Saqqaf, policy analyst at the independent centre for future research in the capital Sanaa, Yemen. "Saleh is al-Ahmar slaps in the face like al-Ahmar slapped in the face and he wants revenge."

Tuesday the clashes broke out after Government forces tried to assault consisting of al-Ahmar district of Hassaba of Sanaa, a region which includes the ministries of the Government and the headquarters of the Party of the Saleh.