Yemeni Gunmen Kill 13 Soldiers In Two Attacks

Gunmen have killed 13 Yemeni troops in two separate attacks as President Ali Abdullah Saleh undergoes an operation in Saudi Arabia to remove shrapnel from his chest.

Armed men attempted to storm the presidential palace in Yemen's second city Taiz, killing four soldiers, according to witnesses.

Another nine were killed in Abyan, in the south of the country, when a military convoy was attacked.

Violence has also erupted in the Yemeni capital Sanaa where heavy gunfire and explosions were reported.

The assaults come as President Ali Abdullah Saleh undergoes an operation in Saudi Arabia to remove shrapnel from his chest, after he was injured in a rocket attack on Friday.

A week-long, Saudi-brokered ceasefire had been agreed on Saturday, just hours before Mr Saleh left for Saudi Arabia .

The president was injured when a rocket hit a mosque in the grounds of his palace in Sanaa.

The assault marked an escalation in the uprising's violence and killed 11 of his guards as well as injuring a further eight senior officials.

Deputy information minister Abdu al-Janadi originally said Mr Saleh, who is 69, had only suffered "scratches to his face".

But his departure for treatment Saudi Arabia suggested the wounds were more severe.

When news broke of the president's departure, people in the capital took to the streets, dancing and singing.

However, Mr Saleh has left his son Ahmed, who commands the elite Republican Guard, and three of his nephews behind in attempt to maintain control.

An Arabic news station claims acting president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi is due to meet with members of the military and Mr Saleh's sons, however this has not been confirmed.

After arriving at King Khalid Air Base in Riyadh, Mr Saleh was transferred to a military hospital.

Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront in efforts by Gulf states to negotiate the president's resignation after nearly 33 years in power.

But he has several times backed away from agreements at the last moment.

Speaking defiantly after Friday's attack, Mr Saleh pointed the finger of blame at the Hashed tribe which has been battling Saleh loyalists.

"I salute our armed forces and the security forces for standing up firmly to confront this challenge by an outlaw gang that has nothing to do with the so-called youth revolution," he said.