The Yemeni government continues a violent crackdown on protesters seeking the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. On Tuesday, pro-Saleh forces opened fire on a crowd in the city of Taiz, wounding at least 20 people. The Obama administration has shifted its stance from supporting Saleh to quietly pushing for his departure. Pentagon spokesperson Geoff Morrell called for a transition in Yemen “as quickly as possible.”

Geoff Morrell: “Obviously, the situation right now is a difficult one. The longer it festers, the more difficult it becomes. That is why this government has been urging a negotiated transition as quickly as possible. And hopefully, as that takes place, we will be able to better collectively go after this threat that exists in Yemen.”