Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 23 / Trend A. Isgandarov /
The Yemeni army has shelled Hasba area of Sanaa killing six people, Al Jazeera reported.
The United States, Saudi Arabia and other powers fear al-Qaeda's Yemen wing could exploit the growing lawlessness in the country. Al Qaeda militants have already seized cities in a Yemeni province just east of a key oil shipping channel in recent months.
Gun battles and shelling between state troops and soldiers backing the protest movement shook areas near "Change Square," the name demonstrators have given the street where thousands have camped out for eight months.
Protesters, inspired by uprisings across the Arab world, marched into parts of the city controlled by pro-Saleh forces on Sunday and were met by heavy gunfire. The clashes escalated when troops loyal to army defector General Ali Mohsen joined in on the side of the protesters, according to Reuters.