Thousands of Protesters Take to Streets in Hadramout

Thousands of Protesters Take to Streets in Hadramout

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sana'a, Feb 22, 2011, About 5,000 anti-government protesters gathered in eastern Yemen calling for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime.

Demonstrators marched on Tuesday in the eastern town of Al-Shiher, chanting "Down, down with Saleh."

In the capital of Sana'a, thousands took to the streets at Sana'a University campus while hundreds continued to camp out in a nearby square.

Demonstrators set up checkpoints around the square and searched those trying to enter.

President Saleh's regime has seen protests for the past three weeks, has said he will not step down before the end of his term in 2013.

However, he has pledged security forces will not fire on protesters. Medical officials have said 11 people have been killed in protests this month.