Yemen: Civil War Becomes War On Al Qaeda

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December 21, 2011: There are still some smaller demonstrations opposing the November 23rd peace deal, mainly against the immunity from prosecution given to president Saleh. But this has not been enough to cause the widespread unrest going on before the peace deal. All the major factions have agreed to the new peace agreement. The only exception is al Qaeda, which is now isolated and under greater attack because troops and police can concentrate on dealing with terrorists, not demonstrators or rebels. The country appears united in making the peace deal work and repairing the damage nearly a year of fighting has caused.

Al Qaeda is moving hundreds of gunmen out of southern towns, north to camps in the more remote Al Jawf and Mareb provinces. The peace deal has allowed the government police and troops to concentrate on al Qaeda and the Islamic terrorists found themselves too vulnerable, and unpopular, in the south.

December 19, 2011: Fighting continues in Zinjibar, the capital of the Abyan where al Qaeda gunmen and soldiers clashed outside the city, leaving two soldiers and 13 terrorists dead. Al Qaeda has been fighting down there for months but is now on the run because soldiers and police can concentrate in terrorists.

December 18, 2011: In the north, an army general who had sided with the rebels and got most of an armored division to join him, agreed to the terms of the peace deal.

In the south, army artillery hit an al Qaeda base in Abyan province, killing ten terrorists.

December 17, 2011: Fighting continues in Zinjibar, the capital of the Abyan where al Qaeda gunmen and soldiers clashed outside the city, leaving four soldiers and two terrorists dead.

Loyal and rebel forces began withdrawing from the capital in compliance with the peace deal.

December 16, 2011: In the southern city of Taez, three rebel soldiers were shot by unidentified assailants while attending a demonstration calling for president Saleh to be tried for war crimes.

December 13, 2011: The new government ordered the release of all 1,400 demonstrators who had been arrested and were still being held in custody. This move was part of the peace deal.

In central Yemen police arrested six al Qaeda members and accused them of planning attacks on members of the new government.

December 12, 2011: In the southern city of Aden ten al Qaeda prisoners tunneled their way out of a prison.