Two sons of the speaker of Yemen's parliament have been arrested after a shootout left four people dead near the British embassy, the official SABA news agency said Tuesday.
"The public prosecutor's office had Hussein and Hasem Al-Ahmar put under arrest on Monday... for attacking on-duty policemen and disturbing public order, " the agency said.
Meanwhile, four other sons of speaker Sheikh Abdullah al-Ahmar, named as Hashed, Hamid, Mozhaj and Kahtan, also involved in Sunday's gun-battle, "will be heard and questioned Tuesday by the public prosecutor in Sanaa as part of the inquiry."
In addition, all six sons were summoned to the interior ministry on Monday, however the agency did not say if they had appeared. "The sons of Sheikh Abudllah Al-Ahmar have in the past acted in such a way as to endanger public order and safety," SABA added.
At least 30 bullets hit the walls of the embassy during the firefight between security forces and armed members of the Hashed tribal confederation, which is led by the powerful speaker.
Eight other people were injured, two of them seriously, including a police officer. Ahmar's son Kahtan sustained a shoulder injury during the shootout.
The parliament speaker also heads al-Islah, an Islamist-tribal party that has seen its power base come under mounting attack since the government announced it would nationalize Koranic schools in May. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
