Post date: Feb 19, 2011 7:41:53 PM
Clashes in Yemen turn deadly and Algerian police push crowds out of May 1 Square.
MIDEAST PROTEST - Saturday marked another day of unrest in the middle east and clashes between anti-government protesters, police, and supporters of the state.
In Yemen, at least one man was killed by gunfire when protesters demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh clashed with government supporters and police.
Seven others were injured, at least two seriously.
The gunfire erupted as Reuters cameramen were filming protests in the area.Witnesses described how the protester was shot in the neck and taken to a nearby hospital where he died.
His death comes after five people were killed in clashes with police and pro-government loyalists over demands for an end to Saleh's 32-year rule.
Responding to the growing crisis, President Saleh addressed the nation and blamed a "foreign agenda" and a "conspiracy against Yemen".
PRESIDENT OF YEMEN, ALI ABDULLAH SALEH:
"There are people who are calling for a civil war now. These people are fools and they break the laws. They have foreign agendas. They are not afraid of civil war because they are not afraid of consequences. It is the people who will pay for that. Those who call for chaos will run away. They have their suitcases in their hands. Their bank accounts are all abroad not in Yemen."
A university student said he was fighting against poverty, unemployement and corruption and that the protesters were ready to die for their cause.
In Algeria hundreds of protesters defied a ban to march in the capital Algiers but they were contained by a massive riot police presence.
One protester said the people were mobilising for a slow revolution, like Egypt and Tunisia, but the Algerian way.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER SAYING:
"The struggle continues. We are announcing a dynamic and its coming, its coming. There was the Jasmine Revolution that succeeded, there was the revolution in Egypt. We have our own specificity in Algeria. We will win, God Willing'
Near the square, supporters of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika faced off with demonstrators demanding his resignation.
Police, with water canons on standby, penned in and pushed all of the protesters away from May 1 Square where the demonstrators had planned to mass.
Maryam Ishani, Reuters.