President Saleh has refused to step down as he recovers in Saudi Arabia from an assassination attempt. All negotiations, including attempts by the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), to stabilise the situation and coordinate future measures have failed so far. The armed conflict bears the risk to evolve into a civil war which might lead to an increase of influence of al-Qaida. The organisation has already captured several cities of strategic importance close to oil shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
BBC News: Yemeni capital Sanaa shaken by fresh clashes
Reuters: Clashes in Yemen capital, window closing for talks
