Protests Continue in Yemen, Algeria, Bahrain

Inspired by the events in Egypt, protestors are taking to the streets in Iran, Yemen, Algeria and Bahrain.

On Saturday, hundreds of anti-government protestors in Yemen celebrating the resignation of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak were met by Yemeni police with clubs. The number of protestors grew to approximately 2,000 on Sunday and 3,000 on Monday. The demonstrators are calling on Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power since 1978, to resign. On Sunday, protestors attempted to march to the presidential palace, chanting, "A Yemeni revolution after the Egyptian revolution." Police with batons clashed with stone throwing protesters. Several people were injured and at least ten were arrested. Protestors chanting "After Mubarak, Ali," clashed with riot police in Yemen's main square in the country's capital Sanaa on Monday. President Saleh is preparing to hold talks with opposition groups to discuss potential political reforms and has stated that he will step down in 2013.

On Saturday, more than 2,000 people demonstrated in Algiers, leading to hundreds of arrests. Protestors, calling for the resignation of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, were met by approximately 30,000 riot police. On Monday, Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci said the country's 19-year-old emergency law will be lifted soon, and that the protests are supported by only a minority of Algerians. That didn't impress the opposition.

"We will continue to march until the regime steps down. Each Saturday we will maintain the pressure," said Mohsen Belabes, a spokesman for the RCD opposition party which helped organized the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, riot police in Bahrain clashed with protesters on Monday, resulting in one death and at least 14 injuries. Protestors said they were demanding the release of those detained during earlier protests, in what was coined "A Day of Rage." Protestors threw rocks and barricades of wood and cement blocks, and riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets. Bahrain's Shiites say they will return for a second day of demonstrations and demand more political freedom and jobs. But Bahraini leaders dismissed the activists: "This is something we aren't seeing as a domino effect. Maybe some people will look at it because it happened in Tunisia, because it happened in Egypt, let us have one day in Bahrain. To have the same effect, no, it will not," Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa said before the protest began.

An article published on Monday in the UK-based MailOnline says that Libyan bloggers, inspired by the people of Egypt, are planning to hold rallies on Thursday against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Related Topics: IPT News

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