Yemen's top army general joins protesters
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A group of Yemeni senior military officers, including General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, announced on Monday to join in the protesters against President Saleh, according to a Xinhua reporter.
Al-Ahmar is the commander of the northwest military area, also known as the army's 1st Armored Division. He is also a half brother of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
"On behalf of my colleagues in the army, we announce our joining in the protesters' peaceful revolution," al-Ahmar said in a tape record broadcast at the center of the anti-government protest sit-in outside Sanaa University in the capital.
Besides al-Ahmar, General Mohammed Ali Mohsen, commander of the northeast military area, and Brigadier Hameed al-Qushaibi, commander of armored brigade 310 in the northern province of Amran, are announced in statements to join IN the protesters in protest against Friday's shootings that claimed the live of 52 protesters in Sanaa.
Meanwhile, military troops backed with tanks and armored vehicles were deployed on Monday from the army's 1st Armored Division camp to the capital Sanaa to protect the protesters immediately after the announcement of those army commanders.
Diplomatic sources in Sanaa said Yemeni ambassadors to Czech Republic, Japan and Syria announced their resignation from their posts and the ruling party, protesting the recent violence against protesters.
A government official said Aden governor also resigned on Monday from his post and the ruling party for the same reason.
Monday's development came a day after President Saleh dismissed his government and appointed it as a caretaker until he formed another government.
On Sunday, a group of Yemeni senior government officials declared their resignation after Friday's shootings.
Some influential Muslim clerics on Sunday called on Saleh to appease the demands of protesters and end his 33-year rule to avoid further violence.
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