Arms dealer's relatives open fire on police taking him to court

Relatives of Sheikh Faris Mana'a open fire at a police convoy transporting him to a state security court in Sana'a, police and witnesses said.

SANA'A // A civilian was killed and two others, including a policeman, were injured yesterday when relatives of Sheikh Faris Mana'a, a top weapons dealer, opened fire at a police convoy transporting him to a state security court in Sana'a, police and witnesses said. "I saw tribesmen in the street and in a building firing at us," said one policeman, as he examined a bullet hole in the window of a police vehicle. "We had to respond and fire heavily at the building and the gunmen."

An eyewitness said a minibus driver was killed and a woman was wounded when both were caught in the crossfire as they drove by. Despite the attack, the convoy managed to reach the court, where it was decided that Mr Mana'a would be kept in custody for another 25 days to allow further investigations, a security official said. Following the gun battle, armoured police vehicles were deployed to the courthouse and surrounding neighbourhoods, while four military helicopters were seen hovering over the area.

Security forces besieged the buildings from where Mr Mana'a's relatives had fired and several arrests were made. [e-mail]