SANAA - Hundreds of anti-government demonstrators and government loyalists fought with rocks and batons in the Yemeni capital on Tuesday in political unrest fueled by the Egyptian uprising. About 1,000 protesters, marching down a street that leads to the presidential palace, were blocked by anti-riot police, a Reuters reporter said. As they dispersed into side streets, they were confronted by hundreds of government backers and both sides hurled rocks at each other. Police managed to stamp out the fighting. Four of the anti-government protesters were wounded, the Reuters reporter said, two bleeding from head injuries. "Ali, leave, leave, and take your sons with you!" protesters shouted, referring to President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a U.S. ally against al Qaeda's Yemen-based wing. Many expect Saleh, who has ruled this Arabian Peninsula state for 32 years, will hand power to his son, a charge he denies. Organised protests across Yemen in recent weeks originally were divided between calls for reform and for Saleh to resign. But since Egyptian protesters ousted their president on Friday, more spontaneous and violent protests have erupted in Yemen and demonstrators have been targeting Saleh, carrying posters that say "Leave," in Arabic, English and French. Analysts doubt Yemen will see a quick, Egypt-style revolt. Any upheaval would likely unfold slowly and perhaps with more bloodshed in a country where half the population has a gun and tribal allegiances run strong. But recent protests, which have become more spontaneous, may signal a turning point. Protests in this poor Arabian Peninsula state have gained momentum in recent weeks, sometimes drawing tens of thousands of people, but started to turn violent on Friday, with clashes between rival protest groups and sometimes police. The threat of turmoil in Yemen, already on the verge of collapsing into a failed state, has pushed Saleh to offer significant concessions, including a pledge to step down in 2013 and an invitation to the opposition for reconciliation talks.
