Two anti-government protesters killed in Yemen

Two anti-government protesters killed in Yemen

2011-02-23 05:27:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANAA (BNO NEWS) -- About 5,000 anti-government protesters on Tuesday gathered in eastern Yemen calling for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, while in the capital two protesters were killed during clashes with supporters of the regime.


Demonstrators marched in the eastern town of Al-Shiher, chanting "Down, down with Saleh" and calling for the president's resignation, who refuses to step down. There were no reports of clashes.

Meanwhile, in Sanaa, supporters of Saleh, armed with daggers and batons, clashed with protesters before police intervened. At least two anti-government protesters were killed and eight others wounded, eyewitnesses said, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Monday, Saleh said that security forces will not fire on protesters. Medical officials, however, said 11 people have been killed in protests this month, according to the Yemen Post.

Saleh on Sunday renewed his call for the opposition to resume dialogue amid civil unrest throughout the country, the Yemen Post reported.

"Dialogue is the best means, not sabotage or cutting off roads," Saleh said in a meeting with his supporters.


"I am ready to sit on the negotiating table and meet their demands if they are legitimate," he added.

Protesters, mostly young, are fighting against soaring unemployment rates, poverty, widespread corruption and patronage.

President Saleh, who has been in power since 1978, pledged earlier this month not to seek his reelection in 2013 or hand over power to his son.

Yemen has been witnessing demonstrations since Tunisian ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali escaped to Saudi Arabia and they have gathered momentum with the success of Egypt's revolution.

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