Massive protests held in Yemen

Yemeni anti-government protesters

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174128.html

Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in different cities across Yemen despite the government's brutal crackdown on such demonstrations.

The Sunday rallies were held in Sana'a, the eastern city of Hudaydah along with Taiz and Ibb, both in the southeast part of the country.

The rallies were followed by clashes with security forces, leaving 43 people injured in Taiz and more than 100 in Sana'a.

The victims were mostly wounded by the regime's live rounds, rubber bullets or baton charges. Around 1,200 suffered teargas inhalation.

Violent clashes with the security forces have claimed at least seven lives over the past two days.

The protesters are calling for corruption and unemployment to be tackled and demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down.

Some 40% of the Yemeni population lives on USD 2 a day or less and a third faces food shortages.

The protests have been met by riot police or supporters of President Saleh armed with knives and batons.

Saleh has said he will not seek another term in office in 2013 but has vowed to defend his regime "with every drop of blood".

Local sources say the death toll has surpassed 300 since anti-government protests began in late January.

Volunteers have turned mosques into makeshift hospitals to help treat the victims.