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Yemeni Militants Seize Weapons Factory

Security degenerates as president battles protesters in capital

By the Associated Press

Posted Mar 27, 2011 10:22 AM CDT

(AP) – Islamic militants seized control of a weapons factory, a strategic mountain, and a nearby town in the southern Yemen province of Abyan today, as a political stalemate over the fate of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the capital causes security to unravel around the country. Saleh's fate is of deep concern to the US as he is a key ally in the fight against al-Qaeda, but with his attention on massive anti-government protests in the capital, security has declined in the provinces.

Residents of the southern Abyan province said police reduced their presence in towns weeks ago. Elsewhere, residents have pushed out police and soldiers and set up their own local militias for self defense. Saleh has been on the verge of stepping down several times, but today is refusing, saying it would draw the country into a long civil war. "Yemen is a ticking bomb and if the political system collapses and there's no constructive dialogue there will be a long civil war that will be difficult to end," he said.

Map locates Abyan province, Yemen
Map locates Abyan province, Yemen   (Associated Press)
Yemeni soldiers stand guard on the side of the road between the southern cities of Aden and Abyan on November 25, 2010. Today, militants in the area seized a munitions factory as security degenerates.
Yemeni soldiers stand guard on the side of the road between the southern cities of Aden and Abyan on November 25, 2010. Today, militants in the area seized a munitions factory as security degenerates.   (Getty Images)
A protester holds her daughter, her face painted the colors of the national flag, during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Saturday, March 26, 2011.
A protester holds her daughter, her face painted the colors of the national flag, during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Saturday, March 26, 2011.   (Muhammed Muheisen)
Female anti-government protestors chant slogans during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 26, 2011.
Female anti-government protestors chant slogans during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 26, 2011.   (Muhammed Muheisen)
An elderly anti-government protester reacts during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa,Yemen, Saturday, March 26, 2011.
An elderly anti-government protester reacts during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa,Yemen, Saturday, March 26, 2011.   (Hani Mohammed)
A masked Yemeni girl  takes part in a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa,Yemen, Saturday, March 26, 2011. The White House urged governments in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain to cease attacks on protesters Friday, while saying the violence against protesters in those countries...
A masked Yemeni girl takes part in a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa,Yemen, Saturday, March 26, 2011. The White House urged governments in Syria,...   (Muhammed Muheisen)
A Yemeni girl holds up a placard that reads in Arabic: The people want to break the system during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa,Yemen, Saturday, March 26, 2011. The White House urged governments in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain to cease attacks...
A Yemeni girl holds up a placard that reads in Arabic: "The people want to break the system" during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa,Yemen, Saturday,...   (Muhammed Muheisen)
Yemeni girls shout slogans during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa,Yemen, Saturday, March 26, 2011. The White House urged governments in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain to cease attacks on protesters Friday, while saying the violence against protesters in those countries have not...
Yemeni girls shout slogans during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa,Yemen, Saturday, March 26, 2011. The White House urged governments in Syria,...   (Muhammed Muheisen)
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Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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