Protesters Clash With Government Supporters in Yemen

By LAURA KASINOF and J. DAVID GOODMAN

Published: February 14, 2011

SANA, Yemen — More than a hundred pro-government demonstrators clashed with hundreds of student protesters on Monday at a sit-in at Sana University that called for an end to the authoritarian rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
As antigovernment protests continued for a fourth straight day state-run media reported that Mr. Saleh would cancel a planned trip to the United States at the end of February “due to circumstances in the region” after the revolution in Egypt.

In the capital, Sana, the police stepped in to separate the rival groups as pro-government demonstrators — some carrying posters of the president — beat the young protesters with sticks near the university’s main gate. The clashes erupted after the two groups faced off shouting slogans at each other.


“The people want to expel Ali Saleh!” students shouted, adapting a chant commonly heard during demonstrations in Egypt.

The pro-government group chanted in response, borrowing the same rhythm: “The people want to start dialogue!”

Similar clashes occurred in the southern city of Taiz, where more than a thousand anti-government protesters staged an overnight rally beginning Sunday. The police, unable to control the crowd, fired shots in the air as skirmishes broke out with pro-government groups on Monday. At least five people were injured.

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