SANA’A/ADEN – Tens of thousands of Yemenis took to the streets of the capital yesterday in two parallel protests – one demanding that the country’s wounded leader surrender any claim to power, another calling him back home.
The rival demonstrations over the fate of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, forced abroad for surgery after an attack on his palace a week ago, highlighted the volatility of a country that western nations and neighbouring oil giant Saudi Arabia fear could slip into chaos and give al-Qaeda a regional foothold.
Thousands of anti-Saleh demonstrators filled Siteen Street in the heart of Sana'a, demanding Saleh formally hand over power to his deputy, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the acting president.
Near the presidential headquarters, a smaller group of Saleh supporters urged his return. – (Reuters)