Sadiq Al-Ahmer, sheikh of the Hashid tribes, said on Friday there was a truce between his tribal supporters and the government forces, after four days of street battles that left dozens killed and hundreds injured and raised fears of civil war.

Al-Ahmer said, as he appeared in Al-Siteen St where hundreds of thousands of antigovernment protesters prayed, that he was among the figures sponsoring the ceasefire. But he said that his supporters will fight if the pro-Saleh forces reignite the battles.

" I was not injured and none my brothers was injured. We are all safe and we are ready to face those are seeking to kill us inside our homes," he told the antigovernment protesters, who gathered in Al-Siteen St to confirm their uprising is peaceful and to call for an immediate ouster of President Saleh.

Tribal fighters from the most powerful tribal coalition, Hashid, flooded into the capital Sana'a this week to support their elder, Al-Ahmer, after the government forces had attacked his guards and raided his house.

They fought back fiercely, taking over several public offices and triggering fears of civil war as the month-long unrest continued in most of the republic to call for the ouster of the regime.

Earlier this week, tribal and military mediation failed to contain the situation as the battles erupted, and even the government forces attacked Al-Ahmer's hosue while the mediators were inside it.

Some mediators were killed and others injured. The mediators committee then held Saleh responsible for exploding the situation and announced full support to Al-Ahmer.

Meantime, clashes between the republican guard and tribesmen on the outskirts of Sana'a continued today.

Many were reported dead and injured. Tribal sources said they took over a military camp and several tanks as they added that jet fighters bombed some areas in Nehm district.