"No to corruption, not dictatorship," chanted today tens of thousands of Yemenis unconvinced the reforms that President Ali Abdullah Saleh promised yesterday. May not reach the 100,000 demonstrators who boasted the organizers, but participation was more fed since they started the demonstrations against the regime two weeks ago.
From the Government, noting with concern the situation of Egypt, encouraged a counter and his supporters refused to opponents Tahrir Square in the center of Sanaa, where so far the protests have been held. "Our focus today is an act of peaceful struggle. We have come together to bring down a corrupt and tyrannical regime", has said Najib Ghanem, a member of the Islamist Al Islah, to the tens of thousands gathered around the University of Sana'a.
"The revolt for justice began in Tunisia. It continues today in Egypt, Yemen and tomorrow will get rid of injustice," he added quoted by Agence France Presse. "What God help the Egyptian people against the tyrant Hosni Mubarak," replied the assistant. "We live on the edge as ever. What is new is the courage of the opposition to demand the departure of Saleh.
It is the first time something like this happens in Yemen, Abdullah al-Faqih analyzed, a political scientist at the University of Sana'a. Consider, however, that the momentum is still very small. "The fall of Mubarak undoubtedly strengthen the demand for Saleh to leave," he said in an email, which is convinced that "if Egypt succeeds, Yemen will be next".
Al Faqih recalled that "historically what has happened in Egypt always has been echoed in Yemen." In his view Saleh, whom he calls a "bad student Mubarak, is based on similar tactics to survive by manipulating the country, stealing their resources and concentrating power and wealth and family members of the clan.
"If Mubarak survives, the results will be disastrous for the region, and youth may use terrorism to see that peaceful means of change does not work," he concludes. And with an eye on Egypt, Saleh said Wednesday at a special session of both houses of Parliament did not intend to extend his rule beyond his constitutional term ends in 2013, or pass the wand to son Ahmad, as the opposition prepared suspected.
The president, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1978 in what was then North Yemen, also invited the opposition to a government of national unity and promised to delay the parliamentary elections called for April. But it is not the first time that Saleh, a shrewd politician and a born survivor, offers reforms that fade.
His conciliatory tone did not persuade the opposition, led by the Islamists of al-Islah and the Socialists and grouped in the Joint Forum Refusing to call off the demonstrations planned for yesterday and well in Sanaa, had a major impact in Taif, the second city of Northern Aden, the former southern capital and largest port in the country, and Ibb, the so-called green city, located between the two. 
From the Government, noting with concern the situation of Egypt, encouraged a counter and his supporters refused to opponents Tahrir Square in the center of Sanaa, where so far the protests have been held. "Our focus today is an act of peaceful struggle. We have come together to bring down a corrupt and tyrannical regime", has said Najib Ghanem, a member of the Islamist Al Islah, to the tens of thousands gathered around the University of Sana'a.
"The revolt for justice began in Tunisia. It continues today in Egypt, Yemen and tomorrow will get rid of injustice," he added quoted by Agence France Presse. "What God help the Egyptian people against the tyrant Hosni Mubarak," replied the assistant. "We live on the edge as ever. What is new is the courage of the opposition to demand the departure of Saleh.
It is the first time something like this happens in Yemen, Abdullah al-Faqih analyzed, a political scientist at the University of Sana'a. Consider, however, that the momentum is still very small. "The fall of Mubarak undoubtedly strengthen the demand for Saleh to leave," he said in an email, which is convinced that "if Egypt succeeds, Yemen will be next".
Al Faqih recalled that "historically what has happened in Egypt always has been echoed in Yemen." In his view Saleh, whom he calls a "bad student Mubarak, is based on similar tactics to survive by manipulating the country, stealing their resources and concentrating power and wealth and family members of the clan.
"If Mubarak survives, the results will be disastrous for the region, and youth may use terrorism to see that peaceful means of change does not work," he concludes. And with an eye on Egypt, Saleh said Wednesday at a special session of both houses of Parliament did not intend to extend his rule beyond his constitutional term ends in 2013, or pass the wand to son Ahmad, as the opposition prepared suspected.
The president, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1978 in what was then North Yemen, also invited the opposition to a government of national unity and promised to delay the parliamentary elections called for April. But it is not the first time that Saleh, a shrewd politician and a born survivor, offers reforms that fade.
His conciliatory tone did not persuade the opposition, led by the Islamists of al-Islah and the Socialists and grouped in the Joint Forum Refusing to call off the demonstrations planned for yesterday and well in Sanaa, had a major impact in Taif, the second city of Northern Aden, the former southern capital and largest port in the country, and Ibb, the so-called green city, located between the two.
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