Protests against Yemeni president endure for fourth day

SANA’A - Some 2,000 people gathered in the Yemeni capital Sana’a Monday to protest against the government, despite previous violent interventions by the police.

The demonstrators chanted some of the same slogans used during public unrest in Egypt, which eventually led to the resignation of president Hosni Mubarak last week - “The people want the regime to fall” and, to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, “Get lost”.

Eyewitnesses said they were met by several hundred counter-protesters, who initially only held aloft pictures of the president but then reportedly attacked with knives and canes. The demonstrators fled to the grounds of the capital’s university.

Protests have taken place in Yemen for four days in a row. The broadcaster Al Arabiya reported that anti-government demonstrations were also unfolding in the city of Taiz, with clashes between protesters and the police.

On Sunday, a large demonstration in Sana’a had led to violent confrontations with security forces. At the time, the police temporarily arrested several protesters and journalists, including a DPA staffer.

Saleh had promised last week that he will not seek another term in office after his current tenure ends in 2013 and will postpone parliamentary elections scheduled for April until talks with the opposition on reforms of the electoral system are concluded.