A/HRC/19/51 at least five security officers in Ta’izz. Bombings and shootings in Aden by alleged members of Ansar al-Sharia have targeted security officials. 21. The delegation noted the continuous mobilization of armed opposition groups in areas where public protests were taking place. They also noted with concern the widespread enlistment of children within the armed ranks of Government and anti-Government forces. A. Human rights violations allegedly committed by Government security forces 22. The mission documented widespread allegations of extrajudicial killings and excessive use of force by security forces and affiliated groups against civilians and civilian targets. Uniformed security forces and plain-clothed armed men reportedly opened fire on demonstrators at street level and from rooftops on a number of occasions throughout the reporting period. The criminal proceedings initiated following the events of 18 March in Sanaa, when security forces opened fire on protesters, killing approximately 50 civilians, have been slow, with only four hearings of the trial of 78 defendants. The same applies for the investigation of the incident of 29 May, when Freedom Square in Ta’izz was attacked and burned. Prosecutors in Ta’izz expressed their readiness to investigate and prosecute those responsible, but complained of a lack of cooperation by most victims and their families. 23. The delegation requested the Government to provide information on (a) any disciplinary measures taken against officers accused of excessive use force or of committing other forms of serious human rights violations against civilian targets; (b) progress made in the establishment of a national commission to investigate human rights violations; (c) any information on the establishment of a national commission to provide compensation and reparations; (d) progress in investigating the incidents in Dar Salm, where at least nine protesters were shot dead by security officers or individuals associated with them on 24 December; and (e) any progress made in other investigations tied to the current unrest. At the time of drafting the present report, the delegation had not received any written information from the Government on the above issues. 24. During the violence of 18 and 19 September in Sanaa, members of the Central Security Forces3 reportedly opened fire on protesters in the neighbourhood of Al-Qa’, killing as many as 30 civilians. On 23 October, security forces and plain-clothed armed men reportedly opened fire on protesters in the neighbourhood of Zubairy, killing five protesters. On 24 November, members of the Central Security Forces, in conjunction with plain-clothed armed men, reportedly attacked protesters near Sanaa’s Change Square using live ammunition, killing as many as five civilians and injuring dozens. On 25 November, security forces attacked protesters marching from Change Square through Zubeiry street. Security forces reportedly attacked the protesters with water cannon and teargas, while plain-clothed armed gunmen opened fire, killing one protester and injuring several others. 25. The excessive use of force was documented in relation to the events of 24 December, when security forces attacked thousands of protesters who had set off from Ta’izz in what became known as the “march of life.” The delegation interviewed numerous eyewitnesses, who provided consistent accounts that security forces unjustifiably resorted to the use of live ammunition in Dar Salm, at the entrance of Sanaa, killing at least nine civilians and injuring many more. The delegation was visiting the field hospital, set up by opposition groups in Change Square, just as some of those who had been killed or wounded 3 8 See A/HRC/18/21, paras. 22-27.