Rival rallies in Yemen bring tens of thousands to streets

Tens of thousands of supporters and opponents of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh took to the streets after weekly Muslim prayers Friday in a test of support for the leader’s 32 year rule.

Reuters/Ammar Awad

Anti-Saleh protesters in front of the capital's Sanaa University chanted demands for the “downfall of the regime,” whilst in Taiz, 200 km south of the capital, organisers said around 10,000 people staged an anti-government protest.

Meanwhile Saleh-loyalists about 4 km outside Sanaa shouted support for the veteran leader, chanting “The creator of unity is in our hearts. We will not abandon him.”

In Tahrir Square more government supporters chanted “Yes to stability, no to chaos”.

Police were present at the rival demonstations in Sanaa to prevent either group meeting the other, but clashes reportedly broke out in the southern city of Aden. There thousands of people marching towards Al-Aroob Square were confronted by security forces who fired tear gas and rubber bullets.

Security had been stepped up in Sanaa ahead of the rallies and Saleh had earlier ordered security forces “to offer full protection for the demonstrators” and prevent confrontations.

Armed pro-Saleh activists have often sought to break up opposition protests across the country.

Seventeen people have died in Yemen since protests began nine days ago.