Yemen minister sacked amid unrest

Yemen’s president has sacked a key minister for failing to mediate with opposition parties and resolve a month-long crisis which is threatening to spiral out of control.

The move came as a stand-off continued today between hundreds of police and plain clothes security officers and protesters camped out near Sanaa University in the capital.

The protesters, who have been demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down, fear they will be attacked to clear them out of the square.

At least 100 were injured yesterday in pitched battles between the two sides.

A presidential decree late yesterday relieved Yemen’s endowments minister, Hamoud al-Hattar, and replaced him with youth minister Hamoud Abad.

Mr Al-Hattar was involved in efforts to get the opposition to accept Mr Saleh’s recent offer of dialogue.