Thousands of Yemenis today took to the streets of the capital, Sana’a, to demand a change of government, inspired by the unrest that has ousted the Tunisian leader and spread to Egypt.
“The people want a change in president,” protesters chanted at Sana’a University in one of a series of demonstrations across the city – the largest in a wave of anti-government protests.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key ally of the US in a battle against the resurgent Yemeni arm of al-Qaida, has ruled the Arabian peninsula state for more than 30 years.
At least 10,000 protesters gathered at the university, with about 6,000 more elsewhere in Sana’a. The demonstrations were organised by Yemen’s opposition coalition, witnesses said. Police watched, but no clashes were reported.
Protesters said they were demanding improvements in living conditions as well as political change. One banner read: “Enough playing around, enough corruption, look at the gap between poverty and wealth.”