Yemen protests see tens of thousands of people take to the streets

Major demonstrations both against and in support of President Ali Abdullah Saleh take place in Sana'a and several other cities

An anti-government protester waves the Yemeni flag from the top of a lamppost in Sana'a

A battle for hearts and minds took place in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a today as major demonstrations both against and in support of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime were held within a few miles of each other.

Yemen's opposition coalition went ahead with nationwide demonstrations in defiance of a plea from Saleh yesterday to freeze all planned protests, rallies and sit-ins.

Around 20,000 protesters, most of them young men, occupied three major roads around Sana'a University in some of the biggest anti-government protests Saleh has faced in his 32-year rule. Large-scale protests also took place in other cities across Yemen, including Ibb and Taiz.

Read more-The Guardian.UK