Yemeni protesters call on Saleh to quit

Thousands of Yemeni protesters have taken to the streets of the capital city Sanaa and several other cities, calling for the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

On Thursday, demonstrators called on Saleh, in power since 1978, to step down from his post, AFP reported.

Security has been beefed up in the capital as more and more people are joining the protesters, who oppose the political and economic policies of Saleh’s government.

On Wednesday, at least five people were injured and dozens of protesters were arrested during violent clashes between security forces in the southern province of Shabwa.

Saleh has recently announced on state TV that he will step down only after his second presidential term expires in 2013.

Anti-government demonstrations have been ongoing for the past nine days, following the revolution in Tunisia, which ended more than two decades of Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s ruling, sending shockwaves across Arab and North African nations.