GlobalPost: Nerve gas may have been used on Yemen protesters

Tom Finn and Shatha Al-Harazi of GlobalPost report on protesters in Yemen complaining of symptoms similar to those caused by nerve gas after clashes with government forces.

SANAA, Yemen -- Doctors from the scene of violent anti-government protests in Yemen's capital Tuesday night said that what was originally thought to be tear gas fired by government forces on demonstrators might instead have been a form of nerve gas, which is forbidden under international law.

Military personnel opened fire and used what was originally assumed to be tear gas to disperse a group of demonstrators who were trying to bring additional tents into the protest area outside Sanaa University.

According to witnesses, the soldiers fired warning shots into the air before shooting gas -- and in some cases live bullets -- into the crowd, killing one and injuring at least 50.

Earlier reports indicated that the gas used was tear gas, but doctors who have been treating the wounded refuted that claim today.