YEMEN: Tens of thousands of Yemenis gather in Sanaa to attend a rally to mark the third anniversary of Yemen's 2011 uprising

Record ID: 214175

  • Title: YEMEN: Tens of thousands of Yemenis gather in Sanaa to attend a rally to mark the third anniversary of Yemen's 2011 uprising
  • Date: 11th February 2014
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF YOUTH PROTESTERS DANCING AND CELEBRATING IN THE RALLY
  • Embargoed: 26th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Yemen
  • Country: Yemen
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAF1CCILUI04QSVT6NL7JTEGER2
  • Story Text: Tens of thousands attended a rally in the Yemeni capital on Tuesday (February 11) to mark the anniversary of the 2011 popular uprising that led to the departure of president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
    Yemen's uprising began in February 2011 and was largely inspired by the 'Arab Spring' protests that toppled the leaders of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
    While the unrest is marked as beginning on February 7, 2011, many revolution supporters look to the date of the first big protest, on February 11, 2011.
    "After the phase of overthrowing the former regime, today we are launching the third phase of the revolution which is the period of building a new Yemen and fighting corruption," said National Dialogue Deputy Secretary-General, Yassir al-Raini.
    One protester called on current president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to disarm militia groups in the country.
    "Youth protesters demand that president Hadi take control of all of Yemeni lands and disarm the militias who hang over us everywhere," said Mohammed al-Asal.
    Also in Sanaa on Tuesday thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Mohamed Basindawa's government.
    The protesters chanted anti-government slogans as they marched from Tagyyeer Square to government headquarters.
    "We took to the streets today to overthrow the corrupt reconciliation government that has stolen our revolution of February 11. We are here today to achieve the revolution's goals and to overthrow the current government," said Abbas Sharaf al-Deen, a member of the Shi'ite Houthi rebel movement that has been on an offensive to enhance its control over the northern part of the country
    "We are here today to overthrow the government that is sponsoring, adopting and protecting corruption. We believe that overthrowing this government means that corruption will end," added another Houthi memberm Khaled al-Madani.
    Yemen has been grappling with violence and lawlessness since Saleh's ouster.
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