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Thousands of Yemenis Join 5th Day of Anti-Saleh Protests

   VOA News  February 15, 2011
   An anti-government protester holds up the Yemeni flag during a protest
   in Sana'a, February 14, 2011

Photo: Reuters

   An anti-government protester holds up the Yemeni flag during a protest
   in Sana'a, February 14, 2011

   Thousands  of Yemeni opposition activists have rallied in the capital,
   Sana'a, in a fifth day of protests demanding political reforms and the
   ouster of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
   Yemeni  police  used batons to try to disperse about 3,000 protesters,
   mostly  students,  who  marched from Sana'a University toward the city
   center  Tuesday.  Some  of the activists responded by throwing stones.
   Three protesters were injured.
   The Yemeni protesters chanted anti-Saleh slogans similar to those used
   in uprisings that forced authoritarian leaders in Egypt and Tunisia to
   step down in recent weeks.
   A  group  of pro-Saleh demonstrators also gathered in Sana'a to try to
   confront  the anti-government protesters.  The two sides have engaged
   in street battles in recent days.
   On  Monday,  at  least  1,000 anti-government activists marched in the
   capital.
   Anti-Saleh  protests have escalated since Friday, when crowds gathered
   to  celebrate  the  ouster  of Egypt's president in an 18-day uprising
   fueled by similar grievances.

   Saleh has been in office since 1978.  In a gesture to his critics, he
   announced  earlier  this  month that he will not seek re-election when
   his term ends in 2013.

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