Dueling demonstrations in Yemen
Crowding the streets in Sanaa.
Anti-government forces gather for Friday prayers and protests in Yemen as they continue to call for the end of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's rule
They are also calling for a peaceful resistance..
SOUNDBITE: Protester Mohamed Haidar, saying (Arabic):
"There is one body that is trying to drag this country (Yemen) into civil war, and is trying to force the revolution to change its peaceful path. But we will continue our peaceful revolution until we achieve our goals."
Saleh, in power for 33 years, has refused to implement a Gulf-brokered power transfer plan, aggravating protests and bringing the impoverished country to the brink of civil war.
But he does have his backers. Saleh backers were also out in the streets Friday
Gulf and Western mediators have sought to induce Saleh to sign a deal with opposition parties under which, broadly, he would quit in return for immunity from prosecution. But that is not something that would find support from the opposition.
The United States and Saudi Arabia fear the upheaval is giving al Qaeda's local wing more room to operate in Yemen,
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
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