The army's first armoured division and some military camps and units officially joined the popular uprising demanding the departure of President Saleh, in a sign the hold of the Yemeni president is now eroding the protests gain further momentum across the republic.
Ali Muhsen Al-Ahmer, the division commander, and other army commanders including former Defense Minister and the current Saleh military advisor Abdullah Alaiwah, commander of the eastern military region, and commander of the camp 310 in Amrcan province announced today their full support to the tens of thousands who have been conducting a sit-in outside Sana'a University to call for the resignation of Saleh.
The commanders said the move came in the best interest of the country and the people seeking peaceful change amid the deteriorating security situation, to maintain the national unity, and to protest the deadly crackdown on the anti-government protesters in various cities.
On Friday, security forces out of uniform sniped the protesters outside the university after the prayers killing 52 protesters and injuring hundreds, many seriously.
The victims brought the total number of those who have been killed since the anti-government protests started in the aftermath of the Tunisian revolt to 100 people across the country.
The commanders affirmed to media they had joined the peaceful protesters just for the sake of stabilizing the country and preserving the national unity, as they expected more military commanders and camps will follow them.
In recent weeks, hundreds of soldiers and security forces joined the revolt as the government intensified the crackdown on the protesters firing live ammunition and poisonous gas at them, leaving many killed and thousands injured.
Also, many senior officials including ministers and ambassadors have resigned from their posts and from the General People's Congress, the ruling party, in protest at the protest crackdown and the deteriorating situation due to the escalating unrest.