A/HRC/19/51 claimed that forces under the command of Ali Mohsen had detained 491 civilians and 193 soldiers, and that forces loyal to Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar were allegedly holding some 200 people. The delegation met with Sheikh Hashim al-Ahmar, brother of Sheikh Sadeq alAhmar and commander of their armed forces, who claimed that most of the people who the Government alleged were in their custody either did not exist or were not detainees, but rather people who had defected from the Government to join the forces of al-Ahmar. Sheikh Hashim al-Ahmar also stated that the majority of detainees in custody had been released following the Government’s decision to release most detainees arrested in connection with the demonstrations, and that less than 40 detainees remained in their custody. Sheikh Hashim pledged to provide detailed information about the names and exact number of detainees still in custody. However, no further information was received. VI. Conclusions and recommendations 56. The delegation noted that Yemenis peacefully calling for greater freedoms, an end to corruption and respect for the rule of law continued to be victimized by excessive and disproportionate use of force in situations where non-lethal measures should have been used. It observed that, in Sanaa, armed opposition groups continued to bring a range of weapons into areas of public protest, thereby endangering the lives of civilians living in or frequenting these areas. Testimonies further indicated that civilians residing in areas controlled by armed opposition groups in Sanaa were subjected to routine harassment, intimidation and, at times, assault at the hands of armed personnel under the command of the armed opposition. 57. During the reporting period, force was used in the context of armed confrontations between Government forces and armed opposition groups, between non-State armed groups, and by Government forces against unarmed civilians exercising their right to peaceful assembly. The ongoing unrest contributed to an increasingly dire humanitarian and economic situation. 58. The delegation also noted the continued presence of children under the age of 18 years in the ranks of the security forces and armed opposition groups. 59. The delegation received information from a variety of sources suggesting that a number of civilians continued to be detained by Government security forces without due process and that armed opposition groups continued to detain illegally persons suspected of sympathizing with the Government or belonging to the security forces. 60. Despite the adoption of a decree establishing a framework for the implementation of recommendations made by during the OHCHR assessment mission, including the establishment of a national commission of investigation, no concrete progress has been made in investigating incidents of excessive and disproportionate use of lethal force, arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance and torture. Given the slow or lack of progress in implementing the above-mentioned recommendations, the High Commissioner reiterates most of the same recommendations. 61. The High Commissioner recommends that the Government of Yemen seize the opportunity presented by the formation of a new Government to restore citizens’ trust in the State and to re-establish the rule of law in the country through the implementation of the following measures: (a) Take immediate action to end attacks against civilians and civilian targets by security forces, in full compliance with the State’s obligations under 15