Yemeni riot police charge towards anti-government protesters, during a demonstration demanding the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sana'a, February 18, 2011
President Saleh, who has ruled Yemen for more than 32 years, is the focus of almost all opposition protests that have built up in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula nation over the past week. Demonstrators also have denounced what they say is systematic oppression and widespread corruption.
He has already pledged that neither he nor his son will seek the presidency after the long-time ruler's term expires in 2013. Mr. Saleh has been in office since 1978.
The Yemeni government's opponents have said they were inspired by the 18-day uprising that toppled Egypt's president earlier this month.
Yemen is one of the world's poorest nations. Even before the current protests, the country was beset by several internal conflicts involving southern secessionists, northern rebels and al-Qaida insurgents.