Yemen’s youth leaders set out demands

THE youth groups who began a month-long uprising said yesterday that they wanted a new constitution and the dissolution of parliament, local councils and Yemen’s notorious security agencies in addition to the immediate ouster of the president.

The widening demands appear to reflect the perception that President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime has been badly weakened by weeks of unrelenting protests, and the defection to the opposition of a string of powerful officials including members of the president’s inner circle.

The organisers say they are hoping that several million people will turn out today for Friday prayers in public squares and follow them with demonstrators against Saleh.

The leaders of the Civil Coalition for Peaceful Revolution — an umbrella group for several pro-reform organisations — told a news conference they wanted to limit future presidents to two four-year terms, and the creation of an interim presidential council of nine civilians to run the country until legislative and presidential elections are held.

The leader of Yemen’s largest tribe sided with Saleh’s opponents, calling on him to step down immediately and refrain from further violence against protesters.

The decision by the widely respected Sheik Sinan Abu Lohoum, 80, was announced in a statement issued from the United States, where he is receiving medical treatment. It was read to protesters gathered at a central Sanaa square that has become the epicentre of the protests.

Members of Abu Lohoum’s immediate family confirmed the authenticity of the statement.

Abu Lohoum’s Baqeel tribe is the larger of two that follow the Zaidi offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. The other — Saleh’s own Hashid tribe — has already backed the opposition. Several senior military commanders and lawmakers have also defected to the opposition.