Sanaa , Yemen ( CNN ) -- A child was killed and six other people were wounded on Thursday when security forces shot at protesters in Yemeni city of Taiz , a medical team said . Yemen 's Republican Guards started shooting and fired tear gas at demonstrators after they refused to disperse and end a march , witnesses said . The protesters railed against tough government actions against peaceful marchers and a failed assassination attempt on a senior opposition leader in Sanaa on Wednesday , witnesses said . Yemen has been wracked by widespread civil strife , country-wide demonstrations against the government and insurgent activity . The nation 's president , Ali Abdullah Saleh , is the object of the protesters , who want him to leave his position . Saleh is being treated in Saudi Arabia for wounds he received last month in a failed assassination attempt .
The demonstration took place in Taiz . Guards fired at protesters after they failed to disperse , witnesses said . Yemen has been enduring widespread civil strife .