SANA’A — Forces belonging to the 1st Armored Division stormed the state-run Public Corporation for Radio and Television early Sunday morning to disperse a group of employees protesting against the  dismissal of the head of the corporation, Hussein Ghuthaim, by Minister of Information Ali Al-Amrani.

A small group of employees at the corporation rejected the minister’s decree, calling it unfair.

Al-Amrani appointed Escandar Al-Asbahi as chairman of the corporation, but he was unable to enter headquarters after protesters loyal to Ghuthaim prevented him from starting work.

Mohammed Al-Khalaqi, one of the employees who went on strike to protest the minister’s decision, claimed the majority of the corporation’s employees will reject the decision.

He criticized the soldiers of the 1st Armored Division for their “violent attack” on the protesters.

“We were peacefully protesting against the arbitrary decision of the minister of information when soldiers from the 1st Armored Division attacked and beat us violently,” Al-Khalaqi told the Yemen Times.

Al-Khalaqi criticized the minister, saying “He is going above the authority of President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. He has no right to render such a decision against Ghuthaim.”

A source from the minister of information downplayed the significance of the protests and said that the number of protesters did not exceed 20.

“They say the minister has no right to appoint a new manager for the corporation; however, Ghuthaim was appointed by the former minister of information,” the source said on the condition of anonymity. “The minister has the full right to appoint a new manager for the corporation.”

“Unfortunately, Ghuthaim and his supporters are trying to undermine the government’s authority,” he said, adding that the employees should obey the decision of the minister.

Hussain Ghuthaim, the former head of the corporation, and one believed to still be loyal to the ousted President Saleh, said in an earlier interview with the Yemen Times that such decisions are only made at discretion of the president, not the minister of information.