Yemen Military Assaults

Northern Yemeni forces bombarded the besieged southern stronghold of Aden, reportedly killing at least 36 people, as 900 foreigners who fled the city by ferry reached safety Friday in Africa. The heavy fighting came despite northern President Ali Abdullah Saleh's announced willingness to agree to a cease-fire. But five previous truces declared during the 6-week-old civil war have failed within hours.

The hostages said they were being led up to a mountain hide-out by their kidnappers when shots first rang out: Yemeni soldiers sent to rescue the 16 Westerners had opened fire. In response, the foreign tourists were forced to stand with their hands in the air to shield the gunmen. When the hostages staggered back, two were shot dead by their captors and the others cowered behind an embankment, two former hostages said Wednesday.

Northern Yemeni forces Thursday gained total control of their southern foe's last bastion, Aden, crushing a bid to recreate an independent state. But fleeing southern leaders vowed to continue the war. Fighting ended at daybreak for the 500,000 people of Aden. By afternoon, they were lining the streets flashing V-for-victory signs at northern troops.

Yemeni troops exchanged gunfire Tuesday with Islamic extremists holding Western tourists hostage, ending a kidnapping that left four of the 16 captives dead. An American woman and a British woman were hospitalized with injuries. The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that the American woman was in stable condition. Spokesman Lee McClenny said the woman, who has not been officially identified, was operated on and may be airlifted to a hospital in Western Europe.

The hostages said they were being led up to a mountain hide-out by their kidnappers when shots first rang out: Yemeni soldiers sent to rescue the 16 Westerners had opened fire. In response, the foreign tourists were forced to stand with their hands in the air to shield the gunmen. When the hostages staggered back, two were shot dead by their captors and the others cowered behind an embankment, two former hostages said Wednesday.

Yemen thundered with exploding bombs and artillery shells Thursday after a simmering feud between the north and south of the impoverished nation blew up into civil war. Fighting blazed near the presidential palace and in other parts of Yemen, while warplanes hit targets in the regional strongholds, Sana in the north and Aden in the south. The southern military command claimed it shot down two northern jets that had attacked Aden. There was no way to estimate casualties.

Yemeni troops exchanged gunfire Tuesday with Islamic extremists holding Western tourists hostage, ending a kidnapping that left four of the 16 captives dead. An American woman and a British woman were hospitalized with injuries. The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that the American woman was in stable condition. Spokesman Lee McClenny said the woman, who has not been officially identified, was operated on and may be airlifted to a hospital in Western Europe.

Southern Yemeni forces launched air and missile attacks on the capital, Sana, and northern troops advanced on the southern port of Aden on Friday in the worst fighting since the two Yemens united four years ago. The latest battles blew apart what remained of the fragile thread that has held together the Arab world's poorest country since the former Marxist south and the conservative north came together.

Northern Yemeni forces Thursday gained total control of their southern foe's last bastion, Aden, crushing a bid to recreate an independent state. But fleeing southern leaders vowed to continue the war. Fighting ended at daybreak for the 500,000 people of Aden. By afternoon, they were lining the streets flashing V-for-victory signs at northern troops.

Northern Yemeni forces bombarded the besieged southern stronghold of Aden, reportedly killing at least 36 people, as 900 foreigners who fled the city by ferry reached safety Friday in Africa. The heavy fighting came despite northern President Ali Abdullah Saleh's announced willingness to agree to a cease-fire. But five previous truces declared during the 6-week-old civil war have failed within hours.

Southern Yemeni forces launched air and missile attacks on the capital, Sana, and northern troops advanced on the southern port of Aden on Friday in the worst fighting since the two Yemens united four years ago. The latest battles blew apart what remained of the fragile thread that has held together the Arab world's poorest country since the former Marxist south and the conservative north came together.

Yemen thundered with exploding bombs and artillery shells Thursday after a simmering feud between the north and south of the impoverished nation blew up into civil war. Fighting blazed near the presidential palace and in other parts of Yemen, while warplanes hit targets in the regional strongholds, Sana in the north and Aden in the south. The southern military command claimed it shot down two northern jets that had attacked Aden. There was no way to estimate casualties.