Yemeni Woman Killed by Sniper During Anti-Saleh Protest

A Yemeni woman was killed during a protest march against President Ali Abdullah Saleh, despite tanks and armoured vehicles having withdrawn under a ceasefire deal, witnesses said.

Rawiyah Abdulerhman was shot by a government sniper from a rooftop as she was taking part in a demonstration demanding the removal of military forcesfrom the city of Taiz, The National reported from Abu Dhabi.

"Both sides violated the ceasefire agreement. We were marching peacefully and they [Saleh's forces] shot at us yet again," medical student Hamoud al Aklamy told Reuters.

At least eight people in the march were injured by snipers, including the 20-year-old woman who died in hospital.

After months of protests calling for his departure, the Yemeni president arrived in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh at the end of November to sign a transfer deal, which would see his deputy, Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, take power ahead of early elections.

The United States was concerned that the protests, which have destabilized central government control in Yemen, could help al Qaeda infiltrate neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the world's number one oil exporter.

Yemeni activists blamed the attacks on Saleh, who was reported to be determined to assert control over the army.

"Saleh said he transferred his authority to the vice president, but this is a game. We won't have a new government until half of Taiz is dead," Aklamy said.

The embattled president survived an attack on his compound in June and received treatment in Saudi Arabia.

Against all expectations, in September he returned to Yemen, where he has remained in power ever since.