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Tuesday, Oct 16, 2012 10:30 AM UTC

Yemen: Senior intelligence officer assassinated

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Topics: From the Wires,

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — A Yemeni security official says a gunman on a motorcycle has assassinated a senior intelligence officer in the capital Sanaa in a drive-by shooting.

The official says the attacker killed Gen. Khaled al-Hashim on the spot and fled the scene early Tuesday. He said Al-Hashim is one of a number of Iraqi military experts hired by Yemen after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

The shooting comes amid a string of killings of top military and security officials. Officials suspected that al-Qaida has carried out the attacks to avenge a U.S.-backed army offensive against the group’s strongholds in towns and cities seized amid the chaos of last year’s popular uprising.

Ahmed Al-haj

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

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  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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