Yemen steps up crackdown

Yemen's parliament enacted sweeping emergency laws yesterday after the country's embattled president asked for new powers of arrest, detention and censorship to quash a popular uprising that is demanding his removal.

The move escalates the showdown between Ali Abdullah Saleh and the movement that has unified military commanders, religious leaders and protesting youth in demands for his immediate departure.

The state of emergency suspends the constitution, allows media censorship, bars street protests and gives security forces 30 days of far-reaching powers to arrest and detain suspects without judicial process.

Youth leaders at the Sanaa square that has become the epicentre of the protests dismissed the move.

"It is the revolution that now decides the future of the nation," said Jamal Anaam, one of the protest leaders. "We pay no attention to the measures."

The accelerating conflict has raised fears that Yemen could be pushed into even greater instability.

Rival factions of the military have deployed tanks in the capital, Sanaa - with units commanded by one of Mr Saleh's sons protecting the president's palace, and units loyal to a top dissident commander protecting the protesters.

The White House has been reluctant to weigh in on the situation in Yemen, except to urge an end to violence.

Speaking in Cairo, US defence secretary Robert Gates said that it was too soon to determine the outcome of the political turmoil.

"I think things are obviously, or evidently, very unsettled in Yemen. I think it's too soon to call an outcome. We've had a good working relationship with President Saleh. He's been an important ally in the counter-terrorism arena," Mr Gates said. "I think we will just continue to watch the situation. We haven't done any post-Saleh planning."

The adoption of the state of emergency was a virtual certainty because Mr Saleh's ruling party dominates the 301-seat legislature. Opposition and independent legislators stayed away from yesterday's parliamentary session along with dozens of MPs from Mr Saleh's ruling party.

There was no breakdown available of the vote, which was done by a show of hands amid chaotic scenes. Some dissident MPs questioned whether the chamber had the necessary 151 members present when it voted, arguing that only about 130 legislators were there.

"The vote is illegitimate," said independent MP Abdul-Razzak al-Hijri.

On Tuesday, Mr Saleh offered to step down by the year's end, but the opposition rejected his offer.He also warned that the country would slide into civil war following the defection of senior army commanders to the opposition.

Mr Saleh, who has ruled Yemen for 32 years, has also called for a dialogue with the leaders of the youth movements leading the protests at the central Sanaa square that has been renamed Taghyeer, or change.