Yemen's President Wounded in Rocket Attack

Sanaa - 03 June 2011: Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh is said to have been wounded in an attack on his compound. Reports indicate the president was lightly injured, while several other government officials were also hurt, some of them more seriously.

Initial reports indicate a shell hit a mosque inside President Saleh's compound in Sana'a during midday prayers Friday. It was not immediately clear who launched the attack, but the city has been ravaged by fighting between government troops and tribal forces for nearly two weeks.

Aides to the president said he would hold a news conference shortly, an appearance that would counter opposition claims that Saleh had been gravely injured, and possibly killed.

Earlier in the day, government forces attacked the headquarters of an opposition TV station in Sana'a, heavily damaging the building.

Fighting has escalated in Sana'a between troops and forces loyal to loyal to Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, head of the Hashid tribal federation.

Violence is also continuing in Taiz, against political protesters, and in Zinjibar, against Islamist militants, turning what began as peaceful political protests four months ago into what many observers fear is near all-out civil war.