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From: Tsegai Emmanuel (emmanuelt40@gmail.com)
Date: Thu Jan 27 2011 - 19:41:18 EST
Published on Thursday, January 27, 2011 by Agence France Presse
Thousands of Yemenis Urge President to Quit
by Agence France Presse <http://www.afp.com/english/home/>
SANAA - Thousands of Yemenis, apparently inspired by events in Tunisia and
Egypt, staged a mass demonstration on Thursday calling on President Ali
Abdullah Saleh to quit after being in power since 1978.
Opposition supporters shout slogans during an anti-government rally in Sanaa
January 27, 2011. Thousands of Yemenis took to the streets of Sanaa on
Thursday to demand a change of government, inspired by the unrest that has
ousted Tunisia's leader and spread to Egypt this week. (REUTERS/Khaled
Abdullah)
"Enough being in power for (over) 30 years," chanted protesters in
demonstrations staged by the Common Forum opposition in four different parts
of the capital Sanaa.
In reference to the ouster of Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali,
the demonstrators said he was "gone in just (over) 20 years."
But Yemeni Interior Minister Motahar Rashad al-Masri ruled out any
resemblance between the protests in Yemen and the public outcry in the North
African country that led to Ben Ali's departure.
"Yemen is not like Tunisia," he told AFP, adding that Yemen was a
"democratic country" and that the demonstrations were peaceful.
But the slogans chanted in Thursday's Sanaa demonstration which lasted for
two hours were firm in demanding the departure of Saleh.
"No to extending (presidential tenure). No to bequeathing (the presidency),"
chanted demonstrators, insisting that it was "time for change."
"Common Forum go ahead. It is time for change," proclaimed banners carried
in the protests.
Opposition Al-Islah (Reform) party MP Abdulmalik al-Qasuss echoed the
demands of the protesters when he addressed them.
"We gather today to demand the departure of President Saleh and his corrupt
government," he said.
A Common Forum activist said that the staging of the demonstration in four
separate parts of the capital was aimed at distracting the security forces.
One area chosen for the protest was outside Sanaa University.
Security measures at the demonstrations appeared relaxed, but were tight
around the interior ministry and the central bank.
Saleh's ruling General People's Congress (GPC), meanwhile, organised four
simultaneous counter demonstrations which were attended by thousands of the
government's backers.
"No to toppling democracy and the constitution," the president's supporters
said on their banners.
On Saturday, hundreds of Sanaa University students held counter protests on
campus, with some calling for Saleh to step down and others for him to
remain in office.
Saleh, who has been president for decades, was re-elected in September 2006
for a seven-year mandate.
A draft amendment of the constitution, under discussion in parliament
despite opposition protests, could allow him -- if passed -- to remain in
office for life.
Saleh had urged the opposition which rejected the amendment to take part in
April 27 parliamentary elections to avoid "political suicide."
The mandate of the current parliament was extended by two years to April
under a February 2009 agreement between the GPC and opposition parties to
allow dialogue on political reform.
The reforms on the table included a shift from a presidential regime to a
proportional representation parliamentary system and further
decentralisation of government -- measures that have not been implemented.
The dialogue has stalled, and a special committee set up to oversee reform
has met only once.
Saleh is also accused of wanting to pass the reins of power in the
impoverished Arabian Peninsula state to his eldest son Ahmed, who heads the
elite Presidential Guard.
But in a televised address on Sunday, Saleh denied such accusations.
"We are a republic. We reject bequeathing (the presidency)", he said.
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