Thousands of protesters have demonstrated in the capital of Yemen calling on the president to step down.
Protesters gathered in at least four different locations in Sanaa.
Reuters reported that at least 10,000 gathered outside Sanaa University, with at least 6,000 more elsewhere in the capital.
The protesters were chanting antigovernment slogans and referring to the recent ouster of Tunisia's authoritarian leader.
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been in power since 1978. The Tunisian president, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, was toppled in mass street protests earlier this month after more than 20 years in power.
Yemen is struggling with poverty, soaring unemployment, and dwindling oil and water reserves.
It also faces a separatist movement in the south and Shi'ite rebels in the north. Concerns have been growing that Yemen is becoming a leading Al-Qaeda haven.
compiled from agency reports
Protesters gathered in at least four different locations in Sanaa.
Reuters reported that at least 10,000 gathered outside Sanaa University, with at least 6,000 more elsewhere in the capital.
The protesters were chanting antigovernment slogans and referring to the recent ouster of Tunisia's authoritarian leader.
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been in power since 1978. The Tunisian president, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, was toppled in mass street protests earlier this month after more than 20 years in power.
Yemen is struggling with poverty, soaring unemployment, and dwindling oil and water reserves.
It also faces a separatist movement in the south and Shi'ite rebels in the north. Concerns have been growing that Yemen is becoming a leading Al-Qaeda haven.
compiled from agency reports
