Yemen: Old City of Taiz “Is Yemen’s Benghazi”

As fighting has raged in Yemen’s capital, other battles have spread across the country between pro and anti-government forces, as well as between government forces and elements of Al-Qaeda. Ongoing battles are being waged against Al-Qaeda-backed militants in the capital of the southern Abyan province and in Taiz between government forces and opposition forces. Taiz is looked upon as  ”Yemen’s Benghazi, the stronghold of the revolution and a city that could lead a movement against him…[Taiz also] is a proving ground, not only for the uprising, but for the notion of a unified Yemen.”

As fighting and instability has increased “Taiz, and southerners more generally, have turned their minds to an old question: independence.” In a recent address, President Saleh called on the opposition “to conduct dialogue so as to complete the disputes on the implementation mechanism, proceeding from our firm faith that dialogue is the only and best way to end [the crisis].”