Sanaa, April 15: Millions of anti-government protesters have taken into the streets across Yemen as President Ali Abdullah Saleh vows to remain in power.
Anti-Saleh protests rallies were held in major Yemeni cities, including the capital, the southern city of Taiz and Aden on Friday. Reports say that at least 13 people have been injured in Taiz.
Protesters are demanding Saleh’s immediate step down.
Also on Friday, Saleh, who has been in power for 32 years, repeated his invitation for the opposition to enter a dialogue with the government.
“We call on the opposition to consult their consciences and come to dialogue and reach an agreement for security and stability of the country,” Saleh told his supporters in Sana’a.
Saleh’s repeated offer for dialogue came a day after influential tribal and religious leaders abandoned the increasingly isolated president, issuing a statement saying he must go now.
“It’s only a matter of days before this regime is over. This revolution cannot be defeated. Our aim to bring down corrupt family rule.” preacher Abubakr Obaid told thousands of worshippers near Sanaa University, where protesters have been camped out for months.
Since late January, hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for regular demonstrations in main Yemeni cities calling for corruption and unemployment to be tackled and demanding President Saleh’s ouster.
The protests have been met by riot police or supporters of President Saleh armed with knives and batons.
In a move to appease the opposition, Saleh said he will not seek another term in office in 2013 but has vowed to defend his regime “with every drop of blood.”
The protesters, however, rejected his offer calling it too late and are demanding his immediate resignation.
According to local sources, at least 300 people have been killed and many others injured since the beginning of anti-Saleh demonstrations in the country.
——–Agencies