Street battles in Yemeni capital leave 41 dead

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SANAA, Yemen (AP) -- Republican Guard shelling and pre-dawn street battles between government forces and rival tribal fighters killed at least 41 people in the capital Wednesday. There were growing signs of disarray in beleaguered President Ali Abdullah Saleh's military.

Fighting raged until 5 a.m., and witnesses said Presidential Guard units shelled the headquarters of an army brigade responsible for guarding sensitive government institutions. Army officers who have defected to the opposition say the government suspected the brigade commander was about to join forces with the movement to oust Saleh.

Opposition army officers, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with army rules, said the armored brigade commander, Brigadier-General Mohammed Khalil, was neutral and without political affiliation but had apparently angered Saleh.

The 41 dead included combatants from both sides of the conflict, said the medical officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.