Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Thousands Rally Across Yemen

Thousands of anti-government protesters rallied across Yemen Tuesday, continuing their calls for President Ali Abdullah Saleh's ouster.

Anti-Saleh demonstrators gathered in the capital Sana'a and the port city of Aden Tuesday. There were reports of minor violence between protesters and supporters of the president, but no word of serious injuries.

A day earlier, Mr. Saleh accused the opposition of making unacceptable demands for his resignation. He insisted on remaining in office until his seven-year term expires in 2013. Mr. Saleh has been in power since 1978.

The mostly student protesters have been chanting for Mr. Saleh's resignation and democratic reforms on a daily basis in the capital since February 11, when an Egyptian uprising forced that nation's autocratic president to step down.

Opposition activists have come under frequent attack by Yemeni security forces and armed supporters of Mr. Saleh. The violence has killed at least 11 people since the protests began.

President Saleh has repeatedly offered to hold talks with his opponents to resolve the unrest. However, a coalition of Yemeni opposition parties say there can be no such dialogue while the government, in its words, uses bullets, batons and thugs to terrorize the Yemeni people.