Yemen: 23 tribesmen killed in clashes

“Twenty-three of our fighters were killed in fierce overnight clashes with the Republican Guard,” said the source from the Bakil tribe, adding that the worst fighting was concentrated in the area of Sheheb Arhab.The trouble began last week after the elite Republican Guard, which is led by President Ali Abdullah Salehs son, Ahmed, installed a checkpoint that allegedly harassed residents of the area that is considered the northeastern gate to Sanaa.The source said troops chased tribesmen to their villages after few skirmishes, adding that the Republican Guard and the army had recently deployed reinforcements in Arhab, which lies 40 kilometres outside Sanaa.Tribal sources claimed that the army was planning a war against the Bakil tribe, Yemens largest confederation of smaller tribes.The Republican Guard has been fighting tribes in various regions of Yemen as several of the heavily armed tribesmen sided with protesters demanding the ouster of Saleh since January.