17 reported dead in Syria clashes

Damascus 'still al-Assad's town'NEW: Syrian forces accused of using nail bombs on peaceful demonstratorsSyrian President Bashar al-Assad meets with other regional leaders at an Arab League Ministers meeting
(CNN) -- Seventeen people were reported dead in Syria Wednesday as a result of continued clashes between government and opposition forces, a leading opposition group said.
The death toll included two children in the city of Homs, and a child in the Damascus suburb of Douma, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria announced.
The latest violence occurred as opposition leaders called for a nationwide general strike, and embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad huddled in Damascus with other regional leaders at an Arab League Ministers meeting. The meeting "was honest and friendly," and the group "felt that the Syrian government wants to work ... to reach a solution," Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani said, according to Syrian state television.
"President Assad did not accept all the initiatives submitted to him, but he did not reject our points and requests," said Arab League Deputy Secretary-General Ahmed bin Heli. "Our main concern is to stop the bloodshed of the Syrian people." The delegation of Arab foreign ministers will resume talks with Syrian officials on October 30, he said.
A large pro-government rally, meanwhile, was held in downtown Damascus, state television reported.
The political upheaval came a day after Amnesty International issued a report accusing the Syrian government of torturing wounded protesters at state-run hospitals, saying the country's authorities have turned medical facilities and their staffs into "instruments of repression."
The London-based human rights group called the alleged siege at government hospitals a new, troubling trend in efforts by the country's security forces to crack down on protests against al-Assad's regime, which have been going on for eight months.
A London-based opposition group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported the use by Syrian forces of nail bombs, which are prohibited under international law. The weapons have been used against peaceful protesters in different areas of Damascus suburbs , especially in Doma, Saqba, Ittel, and Misraba, the organization said. Links to YouTube videos purported to show the pierced flesh on the backs and arms of wounded protesters. CNN, which has not been able to report from inside the country, was not able to determine the videos' authenticity.
The Observatory called on the international community to intervene as it did in Libya.
On Monday, the United States temporarily pulled its ambassador out of Syria as a "result of credible threats against his personal safety," according to a State Department spokesman, who accused Syria of "incitement" against the ambassador.
"At this point, we can't say when (Ambassador Robert Ford) will return to Syria," Mark Toner said in a statement.
Soon after, Imad Moustapha, the Syrian ambassador to the United States, was recalled to Damascus "for consultations," embassy spokeswoman Roua Shurbaji said.
Relations between Syria and the United States have been tense in recent months as the Syrian government's crackdown has intensified. At least 3,000 people have died so far, the United Nations and other international observers estimate.
CNN's Pierre Meilhan, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report
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Medics: 10 dead in Yemen clashes

A wounded Yemeni protester is carried by a Red Crescent medic to a makeshift hospital near Sanaa's Change Square. NEW: Cease fire declared in Sanaa, but it does not appear to be holdingNEW: President says again that he will sign resignation agreementFighting in Taiz has claimed 8 lives, medics sayProtesters in Yemen are demanding the resignation of the president
(CNN) -- A cease fire announced Tuesday in Yemen's capital city of Sanaa did not appear to be holding, but a U.S. State Department spokeswoman said it nevertheless constituted a "good step" towards ending violence in the country.
It appeared that clashes were continuing Tuesday despite the cease fire announcement, which was to have taken effect at 3 p.m. between government forces and opposition groups, according to State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
Cease fires have been announced before in Yemen, often to little effect.
The cease fire announcement came after Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh summoned the U.S. ambassador and reiterated a promise to sign an agreement brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council in which he would step aside in exchange for immunity from prosecution, Nuland said.
"As you've seen, it's not clear that that has been completely enforced on either side since then but we do consider it a good step both that President Saleh is reaffirming his commitment to the G.C.C. agreement and that he understands and is supportive of the fact that the violence has got to end so that we can set the conditions for discussions about Yemen's diplomatic future," she said.
Earlier Tuesday, at least 10 people died and dozens were injured in clashes between Yemeni government security forces in the country's capital and the province of Taiz, medical officials reported.
Two died when security forces opened fire on thousands of anti-government protesters in Sanaa, the medical officials said.
Dr. Mohammed Al-Qubati, a medic at a field hospital there, said "security forces were shooting at protesters immediately after the protests started in Sanaa." Eleven of the injured were in critical condition, he added.
Eyewitnesses in Sanaa said the violence against protesters happened on Qa'a Road, directly behind the Republican Hospital.
The protesters had come together to continue voicing their demand that Yemen's embattled president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, step down.
Meanwhile, medics in Taiz reported at least eight people killed by government forces there.
Yasser Nusari, a medic in Taiz's Freedom Square, said five of the dead were youth protesters.
"Three were shot by the government. Streets are now chaotic and forces are everywhere attacking anyone who is against the regime," said Nusari. "At least 38 people were shot by government forces. It's unbelievable how the government is killing its own people."
Eyewitnesses said security forces bombarded the center of Taiz, as well as the districts of Moshiqi and Al-Rowdah. The witnesses said the government used rocket-propelled grenades and heavy artillery against protesters and pro-revolution fighters.
Clashes erupted between government forces and fighters loyal to the revolution and were still going late Tuesday afternoon.
In Sanaa, Al-Qubati described a horrific scene at his field hospital in Change Square, the epicenter of the anti-government movement.
"The death toll will rise due to the lack of medical equipment we have to help save the injured," the doctor said. "The government is committing a massacre here against unarmed youth."
Abdu Ganadi, the country's deputy minister of information, told CNN that opposition-supported militants are responsible for the violence.
"The opposition are supporting militants who are attacking government property in both Taiz and Sanaa," Ganadi said. "The opposition is seeking to take over the province of Taiz, and the government was only trying to defend the interests of the people."
As for the capital, Ganadi said there are no more protesters.
"These are militants and are all armed. The youth are just a cover-up for the violence the opposition is creating," he added.
This latest round of violence comes just one day after Saleh made comments welcoming a United Nations Security Council resolution, which calls on him to implement a Gulf Cooperation Council-backed initiative that would see him transfer power.
According to SABA, Yemen's official state news agency, Saleh confirmed Monday the readiness of Yemen's Ruling Party to immediately meet with the country's opposition in order "to complete the dialogue over the operational mechanism for the (Gulf) initiative as soon as possible and to reach the final signing of the initiative and its immediate implementation, which would lead to early presidential elections on a date agreed upon by all."
While Saleh has repeatedly promised to sign the GCC-backed deal, he has not done so.
Friday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously condemned the months of violence in Yemen. But the resolution stopped short of explicitly calling for Saleh's resignation.
The proposed Gulf council-brokered accord, which is backed by the United States and the European Union, would allow Saleh to resign from power in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
The Security Council resolution, passed by a 15-0 vote, demands that Yemen allow peaceful demonstrations and end crackdowns on civilians.
CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom is reporting from Abu Dhabi, with Hakim Almasmari in Sanaa
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Report: 11 killed in Yemen clashes

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Crowds marched through downtown Sanaa, where government forces allegedly gunned down protestersEleven people reportedly die in clashes Tuesday in YemenCrowds march through downtown SanaaCNN has not independently confirmed the details of casualties
(CNN) -- Eleven people were killed Tuesday during clashes with Yemeni security forces after anti-government protests again filled the streets of the country's capital, according to a hospital official.
Crowds marched through downtown Sanaa, where government forces allegedly gunned down protesters -- the latest in a series of confrontations between those loyal to embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh, demonstrators and rival factions.
Hundreds of security forces attempted to restrict the protesters' movements, and tear-gas canisters could be seen flying toward the crowd, said hospital director Mohammed Qubati.
Others carrying sticks and knives also advanced toward the crowds, Qubati added.
CNN has not independently confirmed the details of casualties, and the government has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The violence comes one day after thousands of women demonstrated in front of Yemen's Foreign Ministry in Sanaa, demanding U.N. intervention in the ongoing unrest in the Persian Gulf nation.
The women called for sanctions against Saleh and asked that the International Criminal Court try him.
Saleh said Sunday that "strong documentation of the cooperation" between al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood indicate a military coup that is destabilizing the country.
He described the opposition as "insane people, who can't sleep and only want to take power."
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