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Yemen

Fresh protests hit Yemen’s capital

Crowds of protesters poured into the centre of Yemen’s capital Sanaa Tuesday for a massive anti-government march. President Ali Abdullah Saleh accused Israel and the United States of supporting opponents to his regime.

Reuters
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Protesters took to three streets leading to a square near Sanaa University, where students and pro-democracy demonstrators have been camped for more than a week.

02:17

Correspondent Khaled Hamadi, Sanaa, Yemen

Salil Sarkar

Correspondent Khaled Hamadi says the protests are gaining momentum, as opposition parties joined demonstrators.

“The demonstrations in Yemen are increasing day by day, and I think today is the turning point,” he said

“The opposition parties decided to join the protests and the demonstrations in the streets,” he said, adding that the opposition parties rejected concessions made by Saleh, and instead are demanding for him to step down.

“Major Yemeni opposition parties, many tribes also, are all united in calling for President Saleh to step down. No other offers can be accepted,” said Hamadi.

Saleh meanwhile accused Israel and the United States of fomenting anti-regime revolts rattling the Arab world during a press conference in Sanaa.

On Monday, he warned that Yemen would fracture if his regime falls.
"I warn [that]... Yemen will be divided not only into two, but into four parts" if the regime falls, state news agency Saba quoted Saleh as saying.

His opponents will "not be capable of ruling Yemen for one week," said the president who has been in power since 1978.
Saleh has been facing challenges to his regime since protests inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia ousted their longtime leaders, began two weeks ago.

In Oman, security forces used tanks to disperse protestors who were blocking the port in the Sohar industrial city and the coastal road to the capital, Muscat. The operation, which was carried out peacefully, came a day after the US urged Oman to show restraint and press ahead with reforms in its strategic Gulf ally.

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