SANA’A — Armed tribesmen affiliated with the head of the General People's Congress, Fahad Dahshoosh, imposed a siege last Tuesday on the government compound in the middle of the city of Hajjah. They were protesting a decree from President Abdu Rabo Mansour Hadi, who appointed Ali Al-Qaisi as the new governor of Hajjah.

A source said that clashes broke out on Tuesday between armed men of Dahshoosh and Central Security soldiers on Tuesday afternoon. Two soldiers were wounded.

Meanwhile, leader of the Joint Meeting Parties, Ahmed Al-Arami, said that supporters of Dahshoosh were angered by Hadi's decree, pointing out that sheiks and public figures from Hajjah, including the newly-appointed governor, had agreed to recommend Dahshoosh as governor, but he was left on the sidelines.

Al-Arami said that the armed men of Dahshoosh are centered inside the government compound, and that other armed men affiliated with the new governor are positioned outside the compound, expressing concerns about the possible outbreak of clashes if the disagreement is not resolved.  

He affirmed that one armed Dahshoosh supporter and several soldiers from Central Security were wounded during the clashes.

In his turn, Fahad Dahshoosh denied that his men had imposed a siege on the government compound and shot the security guards.

“The one who shot the soldiers belongs to the Joint Meeting Parties. I'm not responsible for shooting them,” he told the Yemen Times.

Concerning the presidential decree appointing Ali Ali Al-Qaisi governor of Hajja governorate, Dahshoosh said that he and some of his supporters refused the decree, but peacefully, through a sit-in in front of the government compound which they began last Tuesday.

“This decree will cause tumult among the residents of Hajja governorate. There is a prior agreement between the sheikhs and prominent people in the governorate to appoint me governor, and not Al-Qaisi,” he added.