Thousands of Yemenis Join 5th Day of Anti-Saleh Protests
An anti-government protester holds up the Yemeni flag during a protest in Sana＇a, February 14, 2011
Thousands of Yemeni opposition activists have rallied in the capital, Sana＇a, in a fifth day of protests demanding political reforms and the ouster of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
About 3,000 protesters, mostly students, marched from Sana＇a University toward Mr. Saleh＇s presidential palace Tuesday, but police blocked their path. Hundreds of government loyalists, some armed with batons, confronted the anti-Saleh activists, triggering street battles in which both sides attacked each other with stones.
Yemeni police joined the government loyalists in trying to disperse the anti-government protesters. At least three people were injured. Opposition lawmaker Ahmed Hashid says Saleh supporters assaulted him during the fighting. The two sides also clashed in Sana＇a on Monday.
The Yemeni protesters chanted anti-Saleh slogans similar to those used in uprisings that forced authoritarian leaders in Egypt and Tunisia to step down in recent weeks.
Anti-Saleh protests have escalated since Friday, when crowds gathered to celebrate the ouster of Egypt＇s president in an 18-day uprising fueled by similar grievances. Mr. Saleh has been in office since 1978. In a gesture to his critics, he announced earlier this month that he will not seek re-election when his term ends in 2013.
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