Yemen’s prime minister and parliament speaker were wounded when shells smashed into a mosque in the presidential compound on June 3, as fighting that has killed scores of people in north Sanaa spread to the south. The attack was blamed by the authorities on dissident tribesmen loyal to Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, who have been locked in fierce clashes with government forces in north Sanaa since May 31.
“The prime minister, head of the parliament and several other officials who attended the Friday prayers in the mosque at the presidential palace were wounded in the attack,” said Tareq al-Shami, spokesman for the ruling General People’s Congress.
“The Ahmar (tribe) have crossed all red lines,” he added.
The mosque attack came soon after Yemeni troops, who have deployed heavy weaponry in their battle against the tribesmen, sent a shell crashing into the home of Sheikh Hamid al-Ahmar, a leader of the biggest opposition party and brother of Sheikh Sadiq.