Protests Across Yemen As President Rejects Gulf Plan

Soldiers block an antigovernment demonstration in the southern city of Taiz on April 7.

Tens of thousands of protesters across Yemen gathered after Friday Prayers to demand the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The demonstrators took to main public squares today in several cities -- including the capital, Sanaa, and southwestern Taiz, the country's third-largest city -- chanting anti-Saleh slogans.

Meanwhile, an estimated 100,000 pro-government demonstrators from across the country headed to Sanaa to show solidarity with Saleh and urge him to stay in office.

A proposal by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to persuade Saleh to resign was rejected today by the president.

The GCC proposal calls for Saleh to transfer powers to Vice President Abdu Rabo Mansour.

Yemen has witnessed nearly two months of anti-Saleh protests.

According to human rights groups, more than 100 people have been killed in clashes with security forces.

compiled from agency reports