- Title: YEMEN: Government supporters rally
- Date: 3rd February 2011
- Summary: SANAA, YEMEN (FEBRUARY 2, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS HOLDING BANNERS AT RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALI DOGHAISH, GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER, SAYING: "We came here for the sake of the country and to say to those terrorists who are carrying out acts of sedition to return to their senses and to the dialogue table. That is all we want." VARIOUS OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS HOLDING BANNERS AT RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMMED AHMED ALZOBAH, ORGANISER OF THE RALLY, SAYING: "The message that we want to send through the rally is: Don't believe the words of the joint opposition, because their words are false, lack clarity and are meant to deceive and they are calling for acts of infiltrator, sabotage and chaos. The country belongs to everyone and all the enemies want to sabotage it." MEN HOLDING BANNERS AT RALLY
- Embargoed: 18th February 2011 12:00
- Keywords: Yemdunc
- Location: Yemen, Yemen
- Country: Yemen
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA63RWT2NTJR1HK3H476YHCVIAX
- Story Text: Supporters of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh gathered in Sanaa on Wednesday (February 2) to show their support for their leader on the eve of a major opposition protest.
Members of Saleh's ruling party have riled the opposition in recent months with proposals for constitutional amendments to either lift the 2013 limit or impose fresh term limits of two terms of five to seven years but allow Saleh to run again.
Last week a protest drew around 16,000 people to demand a change of government. Some called for Saleh to leave office.
On Wednesday, Saleh, eyeing protests that ousted Tunisia's leader and threaten to topple the Egyptian president, repeated a pledge not to try to extend his presidency in 2013 or hand over to his son.
His ruling party has responded to sporadic anti-government protests by calling for dialogue with the opposition.
"We came here for the sake of the country and to say to those terrorists who are carrying out acts of sedition to return to their senses and to the dialogue table. That is all we want," said government supporter Ali Doghaish.
Mohammed Ahmed Alzobah, organizer of the rally, said: "The message that we want to send through the rally is: Don't believe the words of the joint opposition, because their words are false, lack clarity and are meant to deceive and they are calling for acts of infiltration, sabotage and chaos. The country belongs to everyone and all the enemies want to sabotage it."
A "Day of Rage" opposition rally in Sanaa against Saleh's almost 33 years in power is set to go ahead on Thursday (February 3). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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