Tens of thousands in Yemen `Day of Rage’ demonstrations

SANA’A - Large demonstrations were taking place in Sana’a Thursday, with both pro- and anti-government protesters flocking to the centre of the Yemeni capital in their tens of thousands.

According to witnesses, more than 20,000 people supporting President Ali Abdullah Saleh were protesting near Sana’a University and another group was located in Tahrir Square.

Meanwhile, over 20,000 people from the opposition - who had called for a “Day of Rage” - were marching towards Tahrir Square, from a suburb of the city called Bab al-Yemen, about four km away.

On Wednesday, Saleh, who has ruled since 1978, pledged he would not seek re-election in 2013, when his term expired, and would also not hand over power to his son.

But he warned opposition groups not to protest, saying he was looking to form a national unity alliance.

Yemen has multiple internal conflicts, including secessionist movements in the north and south, and an Islamist threat in the form of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.