Yemen: Tens of Thousands Call on President to Leave

The protests in Egypt and the popular uprising in Tunisia that ousted its long time leader can be seen to have had a domino effect in the region. Demonstrations in Sanaa, the Capital city of Yemen, have escalated. Tens of thousands of Yemenis are calling on Ali Abdullah Saleh, president for 30 years, to step down. Yemeni opposition members and youth activists gathered, chanting anti-government slogans calling for economic reforms and an end to corruption. Yemenis complain of mounting poverty among a growing young population and frustration with a lack of political freedoms. A separatist movement can be seen in the south and and an uprising of Shia Houthi rebels in the north causing security issues to plague the country. There are fears that Yemen is becoming a leading hub for Islamist militant groups, including al-Qaeda.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12295864

Dennie Whitlow