Yemen leader must begin transition 'now': EU

(BRUSSELS) - European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton renewed her call Tuesday for Yemen's president to give up power as she voiced shock over the use of live rounds against protesters in Taez.

"I am shocked and condemn in the strongest terms the use of force and live ammunition against peaceful protesters in the city of Taiz. Reports of attacks on medical facilities are appalling," she said.

"The continued repression by the Yemeni regime and grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law cannot be accepted. Those responsible for such deeds must be held accountable," Ashton said in a statement.

She reiterated demands for Yemen to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to launch an independent assessment of the situation the ground.

"I urge again President (Ali Abdullah) Saleh to address the legitimate demands of the Yemeni people regarding political transition, to refrain from violence and to end abuses of human rights," Ashton said.

"It is now time, without further pretexts, to sign and implement the GCC initiative on political transition," she said, referring to a plan brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council that Saleh has refused to sign.

The UN human rights office said Tuesday that government forces killed more than 50 people since Sunday as they crushed a sit-in in the southwestern city of Taez.