Pro-regime forces kill nine in Yemen

Nine people have been killed by pro-regime forces on a third day of deadly violence in the rapidly escalating showdown between protesters and the embattled president in Yemen, medical officials said.

Today's deaths take to at least 60 the number of people killed since Sunday, as anti-regime protesters step up their campaign to topple President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The officials said today's victims included three protesters, three rebel soldiers and a bystander in the capital, Sanaa. They were killed by mortar shells fired by government forces.

Officials said clashes between protesters and security forces in the southern city of Taiz left two more people dead.

PA