Thousands hold anti-govt. rally in Yemen

Sun Apr 17, 2011

Large crowds of Yemeni protesters have held anti-government demonstrations, repeating their call for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

On Sunday, thousands of protesters gathered in the capital, Sana'a, as Yemeni opposition leaders were preparing to discuss power transition in the country with foreign ministers of Persian Gulf Arab nations in Saudi Arabia.

Saleh has already been in office for 32 years with several opposition members arguing that his long-promised reforms have not materialized.

Regular thousands-strong protests have been held in the capital as well as the cities of Aden and Taizz, calling for Saleh's removal and the tackling of corruption and unemployment.

Some 40% of the population lives on USD 2 a day or less in the country, and one third face food shortage.

The protests have been met by riot police or supporters of Saleh armed with knives and batons.

The death toll in the country has surpassed 300 since anti-government protests began in late January.

Last week, the Yemeni opposition rejected an Arab proposal for Saleh passing power to his deputy. The plan appeared to offer the president immunity from prosecution and lacked a clear timetable for his departure.

The opposition wants Saleh gone within weeks. It also wants to keep open the option of prosecuting him.

Protesters remain unwilling to take part in any talks before Saleh resigns.

The president's resignation is "not negotiable," Former Yemeni Foreign Minister Mohammed Basindwa said. "We hope the American and European friends as well as our brothers in the Gulf will support this initiative because there will be no solution without Saleh's departure."

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175288.html.