Tribes march on Yemen capital

THOUSANDS of Yemeni tribesmen clashed with Syrian troops yesterday, as they prepared to march on the capital Sanaa, threatening the impoverished Gulf country with civil war.

Gun battles forced the closure of Sanaa's main airport yesterday, while tribesmen attacked government forces in the city of Taiz.

Nearly four months of mostly peaceful street protests calling for democratic reforms and the end of president Ali Abdullah Saleh's 33-year rule gave way almost two weeks ago to an eruption of violence between security forces and fighters loyal to Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, head of the country's most powerful tribal confederation, the Hashid.

Yemen's defence ministry said special forces units commanded by Mr Saleh's son Ahmed were moving to "liberate" sites in Sanaa seized by tribal fighters.