Pro-government supporters armed with batons and stones Tuesday waded into anti-government protesters trying to march on Yemen's presidential palace, sparking clashes dispersed by police. At least three people were wounded as the rivals pelted each other with stones, AFP reported, in a second consecutive day of violence in central Sanaa.
Protesters estimated to number 3,000 poured out of Sanaa University for the fourth day straight day to demand the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. As they advanced on Saleh's palace, supporters of his General People's Congress (GPC) party using batons and stones confronted the demonstrators, who responded by hurling stones, the report said.
The president's supporters tried to attack opposition MP Ahmed Saif Hashed, who took part in the protest.
As tensions soared outside his palace, Saleh announced that his office was open "to listen to the views" of "various segments of society from all the republic's provinces." "These direct meetings between the president and people from various social segments will provide the chance to discuss all the developments and ... listen to different views ... to serve the country," the state news agency Saba said.
