Anti-government protests break out in Yemen and Algeria

PHOTO

In Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, the protest movement gaining fresh momentum from the developments in Egypt. [www.flickr.com]

Last Updated: Sun, 13 Feb 2011 07:14:00 +1100

Yemeni police in the capital Sana'a have used clubs to beat anti-government protesters who were celebrating the resignation of Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, and demanding that their own president step down.

The crackdown reflected an effort to undercut a protest movement gaining fresh momentum from the developments in Egypt.

Hundreds of protesters had tried to reach the Egyptian embassy but security forces pushed them back.

Buses ferried ruling party members, equipped with tents, food and water, to the city's main square to help prevent attempts by protesters to gather there.

In Algeria, thousands of people are holding a pro-democracy rally in Algiers, defying a government ban.

Scuffles broke out during the demonstration, and a number of people were arrested by riot police.