(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Protests inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia have brought President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule to the verge of collapse. But the president called on Sunday for an end to the violence, signaling he has no intention of resigning soon.
Residents told Reuters that demonstrators organised the 2 a.m. march in protest against a security crackdown on rallies in Taiz, south of the capital, that killed two and wounded hundreds on Sunday.
A few thousand took part in the march, they said.
"They suddenly gathered around the province's administrative building and headed to the presidential palace, but police stopped them by firing gunshots in the air and using teargas. I saw a lot of plainclothes police attack them too," a witness told Reuters by phone.
Doctors at a local hospital said nine people had gunshot wounds, 350 suffered from teargas inhalation, and around 50 had been wounded by plainclothes police hurling rocks.
The presidential palace in Hudaida is one of several homes kept by Saleh, 68, around the country. He was most likely at the presidential palace in capital Sanaa on Monday.
The New York Times reported U.S. President Barack Obama's administration has shifted position on Saleh and now believes he should leave office.
A Yemeni official was cited as saying negotiations with Saleh on the terms of his possible departure began a little over a week ago.
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