Hundreds of pro-government activists, carrying batons and daggers on Thursday chased a small group of protesters, who were trying to organize demonstrations for the seventh day to demand an end to the 32 year rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The police lost control on the government loyalists who tried to attack some 100 anti-regime protesters who gathered at the University of Sana'a. Some 25 people were injured in the clashes.
The demonstrators loyal to the government raised banners which read: "Yemen in our hearts", "No for those who trade in the homeland", «Not to destroy public property», and «No for chaos and destruction". The supporters of the regime occupied the center of the capital's Tahrir Square and set up tents to prevent the entry of any anti-government activists to the area. On the other hand, opponents chanted slogans such as "People want to overthrow the regime", No for single-family rule", "Yes to the fight against corruption and corrupt."
Pro-Saleh activists assaulted Al-Jazeera cameraman and broke his camera at the gate of the University and in the presence of security agents.
In Aden (south of the country), the security authorities announced the arrest of about two dozen protesters demanding a regime change. There were clashes with security forces in the district of Mansoura city, where two people where killed. This incident led to President Ali Abdullah Saleh to set up a Steering Committee to investigate the events.
Meanwhile, in Hadramout (East of Yemen) a Yemeni officer was assassinated by gunmen believed to be members of al Qaeda as he entered his house. This is the fourth official to be assassinated in Hadramout during the past 6 months.
