Protest demos continue across Yemen

SANAA: Massive protests demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh took place across Yemen on Sunday, as the opposition joined a Gulf Arab meeting in Riyadh to plan for the leader's departure.

Security forces were deployed heavily in Sanaa where hundreds of thousands of men and women took to the streets in protest at Saleh's call for an end to men and women demonstrating together against the regime and calling for his ouster.

But clashes soon broke out when security forces opened fire and shot tear gas grenades at protesters, leaving one injured and 25 others suffering from breathing difficulties, according to medics at a field hospital there.

Protesters also took to the streets in the cities of Taez and Ibb, south of Sanaa, and the Red Sea city of Al-Hudaydah, the organisers said.

"We want to overthrow the regime and to bring the assailant to justice," read their banners.

The demonstrations came as foreign ministers of the oil-rich Gulf Arab monarchies were to meet a delegation from the poverty-striken country's opposition in Riyadh, who will ask for clarification on the Gulf initiative on Saleh's departure. (AFP)