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Yemen Tribal Leaders Back Protesters

   VOA News  April 15, 2011
   Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration to demand the ouster of
   Yemen's President Saleh in the southern city of Taiz, April 14, 2011

Photo: Reuters

   Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration to demand the ouster of
   Yemen's President Saleh in the southern city of Taiz, April 14, 2011

   Religious and tribal leaders in Yemen have sided with protesters
   calling for the resignation of long-time President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
   A group of influential leaders released a statement after a meeting
   late Thursday urging the president to respond to the peaceful demands
   and to step down quickly.
   The opposition has rejected an offer from Gulf states to mediate a
   transfer of power, saying the plan would protect Saleh and his family
   from prosecution, and did not provide a timeline for his departure.
   Opposition leaders are insisting the president resign within two weeks.
   Yemen's state-run media reported thousands of Saleh's supporters took
   to the streets of the capital Sana'a Thursday, waving the Yemeni flag
   and shouting pro-government slogans.
   Saleh has ruled Yemen for the past 32 years.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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References

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