Yemen Braces for 'Day of Rage' after 4 Die in Rally Clashes

Yemeni anti-government protesters show cartridges of live ammunition which allegedly was used by security forces during clashes in the southern port town of Aden. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Several thousand people have joined anti-government protests in the Yemen capital Sanaa Thursday, demanding the ousting of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Dozens of Yemenis have been injured in clashes between pro- and anti-government activists, reports say. Police fired warning shots in the air and reportedly arrested about 50 demonstrators.

There were also clashes in Aden where 4 people were reportedly killed - one of them by what police called "random gunfire". 17 have been injured.

President Saleh has sent his vice-president to Aden to head a committee to investigate the violence there, while he has also been touring the provinces trying to rally support, BBC informs Friday.

The rallies are inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. Demonstrators, demanding Saleh resignation, ending corruption and unemployment, have been on the streets for seven days now, but the rally in Sanaa on Thursday was the largest gathering so far.

President Saleh, who has been in power for 32 years, announced already he is not running for re-election and would not hand over power to his son.

But while the opposition coalition has agreed to hold talks, the compromise did not appease demonstrators, many of whom are students.

There have also been protests in other Yemeni cities, including Taiz and Ibb.

Anti-government activists have called for a "day of rage" on Friday.