Yemen tense as thousands attend rival rallies in Sanaa

Anti-government protesters want President Saleh to step down immediately

 

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Yemen's capital Sanaa for rival mass rallies, a week after 50 people were shot dead at a protest.

Anti-government protesters predict their biggest rally yet to demand the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in power since 1978.

Addressing a rally of his supporters, he reportedly said he was ready to hand over power but only to "safe hands".

He also urged his supporters to "stand firm", reports say.

Mr Saleh earlier denied that government forces had played any part in the shooting of demonstrators last week.

Both the government and opposition have set up checkpoints in Sanaa and the streets are full of armed men.

There is real fear of a new confrontation, a BBC correspondent reports from the city

According to an AFP news agency report, Friday's crowds number hundreds of thousands.

On Wednesday, Yemen's parliament passed sweeping emergency laws giving security forces far-reaching powers to detain suspects and prevent demonstrations.

Mr Saleh has said the unrest risks taking Yemen into civil war.

On Monday a senior general, Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, defected to the protesters and sent troops loyal to him to guard demonstrators encamped in a square in Sanaa.

There are fears there could be clashes between units loyal to the president and those who support the protesters.

Other senior officials have also left Mr Saleh's side to go to the opposition.

There are reports that Gen Mohsen has met with Mr Saleh to discuss his options for leaving.

Yemen is one of a number of countries in the region that have seen unrest since the presidents of Egypt and Tunisia were ousted in popular revolts.

The president also faces a separatist movement in the south, a branch of al-Qaeda and a periodic conflict with Shia tribes in the north.