A/HRC/18/21 By the time the Mission arrived in Yemen, a number of separate, but at times intertwined, struggles were taking place in the major cities. Peaceful demonstrators were calling for change like their counterparts in other parts of the region; while an increasingly violent power struggle was playing out between President Ali Abdallah Saleh and his supporters, on the one hand, and armed opponents, including alleged Al-Qaeda elements, on the other. In addition, political opponents, including recent defectors, were publicly renouncing the resort to violence and seeking a resolution that would bring about a change in regime. The Mission noted that the Government of Yemen had lost effective control of parts of the country and the major cities, where armed opponents appear to have de facto control. The Mission also observed that some of those seeking to achieve or retain power were deliberately seeking to punish and cause severe hardship to the civilian population by cutting off access to basic services, such as electricity, fuel and water. The Mission noted the danger of the protests becoming increasingly radicalized and more violent in response to the excessive use of lethal force by the Government, and the growing involvement of and intimidation by armed elements among the demonstrators. However, the Mission also noted that street protesters still managed to maintain a peaceful character, despite the heavy loss of life and severe injuries suffered thus far. The Mission was alarmed at the deteriorating humanitarian situation, which is adversely affecting the majority of the population, but in particular the poorest and most vulnerable, such as children, internally displaced persons and refugees. It is also very concerned that the availability of electricity, fuel, cooking gas, water and other basic services are being manipulated to punish the entire population. The Mission is of the view that unless urgent measures are taken to ensure the independence and integrity of the judiciary and to provide it with sufficient resources, calls for investigations and prosecutions will be undermined. Furthermore, given the lack of confidence by many Yemenis that the judiciary will conduct impartial investigations into human rights abuses, there is need for international, independent and impartial investigations. 2