By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said protesters demanding an end to his 32-year rule could not achieve their goal through “anarchy and killing,” as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across the country.
In the latest violence, soldiers shot dead a teenager in the southern port city of Aden Monday. Four others were wounded when the troops fired on youths throwing stones at their patrol. The nationwide unrest has killed 12 people since Thursday.

“Yes to reforms,” Saleh told a news conference in Sanaa. “No to coups and seizing power through anarchy and killing,” he said, accusing his opponents of trying to use force.

“If they want power, they must reach it through the ballot boxes … You are calling for the regime to go – then come and get rid of it through the ballot boxes,” he said. “The opposition are raising the level of their demands, some of which are illicit,” Saleh added.

Saleh described the protests as an unacceptable provocation, rejecting what he suggested were attempts at foreign interference. “The arbiter is the [Yemeni] people and not the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. or the EU,” he said.
However, Saleh offered to begin a dialogue with the protesters.

The proposal was quickly rebuffed as insincere by an opposition spokesman, and an influential group of Muslim clerics called for the establishment of a national unity government until elections can be held.
“The call is merely an attempt to win time and we have been in this vicious circle for years,” said Mohammad al-Sabri, a spokesman for a coalition of opposition group.

The EU delegation in Yemen also urged authorities in a statement to “immediately halt attacks by security forces and armed pro-government groups on peaceful protesters and journalists and avoid any escalation.”
In another attempt to defuse anger, Saleh said that he has ordered troops not to fire at anti-government protesters, except in self-defense.
Despite Saleh’s gestures, protesters are digging in.

Tens of thousands of protesters Monday took to the streets of Sanaa, the southern city of Aden, the northern city of Saada – stronghold of Shiite Houthi rebels – the western port city of Al-Hudaydah and in Taiz, south of Sanaa.

Several hundred camped overnight in a square in Sanaa, near the city’s university. Many remained Monday evening, saying they would stay until the regime falls.

Security forces surrounded the protesters near Sanaa University, which they have dubbed Al-Huriya (Liberty), brandishing banners declaring: “People want change,” “People want to overthrow the regime” and “Leave!”
The protesters vowed to stand firm despite Saleh having announced the formation of three committees to examine security, medical care and nutrition in Yemen. “The students will not leave unless either the president falls or they fall dead,” said Moammar al-Haidari, one of the students.
In the city of Taiz, tens of thousands of protesters rallied in the central square. “We will not leave this place until the downfall of the regime,” activist Ahmad Ghilan said.

A 28-year-old protester died Monday from wounds he sustained when a hand grenade was thrown at protesters in Taiz Friday, a hospital official said.
Thousands of protesters also marched in the city of Saada, near the Saudi border, calling for the government’s ouster.

The area has seen fighting between government forces and Shiite rebels who oppose state control of their area.
In the port city of Aden, a group of youths threw stones at a security vehicle Monday, said a medical official at a local hospital. Shots were fired at the stone-throwers from the vehicle, killing one and wounding four, the official said.

Also Monday, the influential Commission of Religious Scholars in Yemen called for the formation of a transition government until new polls can be held. In a statement, the group urged the government to protect peaceful protests and hold accountable those who killed or attacked protesters and journalists.
“Any act of beating or killing of protesters is a deliberate crime,” said the association of Yemeni clerics headed by Sheikh Abdel-Majid Zindani. The clerics demanded a ban on “arbitrary arrest and [all forms of] torture.” – AP, AFP