Yemen tense as capital sees huge rival rallies
Yemeni state TV showed the rally in support of President Saleh 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 said he was ready to hand over power but only to "safe hands".
While condemning bloodshed, he also urged his supporters to "stand firm".
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.
Continue reading the main story
Mr Saleh is clearly running out of things he can offer the opposition but he still has plenty of military might and he has vowed to protect himself.
Western concern is that any chaos could be exploited by al-Qaeda, which has a presence in Yemen.
Flights out of Sanaa are full as many embassies evacuate their employees.
The opposition are calling the new rally a Friday of Departure but one student activist told me that Friday of Uncertainty would be more appropriate.
Analysis
In public, at least, the man who has ruled Yemen for 32 years remains defiant. After the opposition rejected his offer of an early election, Ali Abdullah Saleh turned to the military units that defected from him, describing their decision to leave as "stupid" and offering them amnesty if they returned.Mr Saleh is clearly running out of things he can offer the opposition but he still has plenty of military might and he has vowed to protect himself.
Western concern is that any chaos could be exploited by al-Qaeda, which has a presence in Yemen.
Flights out of Sanaa are full as many embassies evacuate their employees.
The opposition are calling the new rally a Friday of Departure but one student activist told me that Friday of Uncertainty would be more appropriate.
According to an AFP news agency report, Friday's crowds number hundreds of thousands.
President Saleh, dressed in a smart suit and sunglasses, took the microphone before a huge crowd."We don't want power but we need to hand power over to safe hands, not to sick, resentful or corrupt hands," he said.
"We are against firing a single bullet and when we give concessions this is to ensure there is no bloodshed," he added.
"We will remain steadfast and challenge them with all power we have."
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.
Are you in Yemen? Are you involved in the protests? What do you think about the demonstrations? Send us your comments and experiences.
