A/HRC/19/51 throughout the city. The violence resumed, however, with the killing of unarmed protesters in Dar Salm, at the entrance to Sanaa, on 24 December. 12. During the reporting period, Sanaa witnessed sporadic outbreaks of violence and frequent use of lethal force by Government security forces. On 18 and 19 September, security forces opened fire on protesters. In the following days, coinciding with the return of President Saleh from Saudi Arabia on 23 September, violent clashes between Republican Guard and Central Security Forces against soldiers loyal to defected General Ali Mohsen resulted in the killing of dozens of civilians caught in the crossfire. During the clashes, numerous civilians were arbitrarily arrested; according to information provided to the mission, at least four people were subjected to torture while in detention. The awarding, on 7 October, of the Nobel Peace Prize to a Yemeni human rights defender, Tawakkul Karman, together with two other women from Liberia, was celebrated by large demonstrations across Yemen, which were met with violence by security forces, especially in Ta’izz. 13. On 24 December, Government security forces and individuals wearing civilian clothes attacked protesters using batons, water cannon and live ammunition, allegedly killing at least nine people and injuring dozens. The protesters had set off from Ta’izz and were participating in the “march of life” protest. 14. Violent clashes in Ta’izz had begun on 29 and 30 May when Government forces used live ammunition against peaceful protesters in Freedom Square. In response, antiGovernment groups mobilized in and around Freedom Square and took control of a large part of the city. This resulted in a marked increase of violence, with Government forces attacking areas occupied by anti-Government groups loyal to Sheikh Hamood al-Mikhlafi and Sadiq Serhan (affiliated to General Ali Mohsen’s First Armoured Division) from afar, using such heavy weaponry as tanks, mortar shells and machine guns. The anti-Government groups retaliated, using machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades to attack Government forces positions, including civilian buildings temporarily used by Government forces. 15. The region of Arhab, a sparsely populated yet highly exposed area some 20 kilometres north of the capital and largely under the control of armed opposition groups, witnessed intermittent violent clashes between the Republican Guard and armed tribesmen. In August, fierce fighting between Government forces and their opponents resulted in the killing of several soldiers and at least 20 rebel fighters, according to reports. Throughout the reporting period, military planes reportedly carried out several attacks, bombing targets and killing an unknown number of people. According to testimonies and reports received during the mission, the attacks on Arhab were carried out by Government forces in coordination with tribal allies, with the use of the air force, tanks, long-range missiles, heavy artillery and snipers. Eyewitnesses alleged the widespread destruction of public and private infrastructure and described the continued attacks as constituting a siege, severely restricting the population’s right to freedom of movement and at times denying them humanitarian access. Figures concerning the exact number of people killed or injured could not be verified. 16. Similar patterns of violence were witnessed in other localities across the country. Most parts of the governorate of Abyan and a number of towns in the governorate of Shabwa remain under tight control of armed men from Ansar al-Sharia, a group allegedly linked to Al-Qaida. The delegation heard allegations that Ansar al-Sharia imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law, which had resulted in at least one public execution of a 15year-old following a summary trial that did not comply with international human rights standards. A religious teaching centre in Dammaj, a village in the northern governorate of Saada, became a flashpoint of violence between followers of Abdelmalek al-Houthi and Salafi militia. The former claimed that Salafi students in that area had not respected an agreement to lay down their weapons. A number of attempts by activists or tribal and 6