Several thousand Yemeni protesters defied appeals for calm from the military and marched through the capital on Thursday, pressing on with their campaign to oust the U.S.-allied President.
The protesters fought off attacks by police and government supporters swinging batons and daggers. Municipal vehicles ferried sticks and stones to the pro-government side, witnesses said.
For seven straight days, protests have hit the capital, Sana'a, and other cities in the Arab world's poorest country, a mountainous territory wracked by tribal conflicts, armed rebellion and other serious woes. Inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, Yemenis have poured into the streets to demand the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh after 32 years in power — three years more than Egypt's Hosni Mubarak. Their main grievances are poverty and government corruption.
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Mr. Saleh's promises not to run for re-election in 2013 or to set up his son to succeed him have failed to quiet the anti-government storm . Thursday's protests began with small gatherings of students marching toward downtown Sana'a. Many other people joined them as clashes broke out with police and government supporters. The number of protesters reached about 6,000. “People want to topple the President, people want to topple the regime,” they chanted.
Witnesses said police fired shots into the air to disperse the protesters. Clashes were reported on Thursday in several other towns.
Seeking to hold on to the momentum, activists have called for a “day of rage” on Friday.
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