Foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council met a Yemeni government delegation in Abu Dhabi last night for talks on an exit plan for the country's embattled president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The GCC proposes that Mr Saleh hand over power to his vice president. Yemen's opposition has rejected the deal because it does not call on the president to step down immediately.
In Yemen yesterday at least three protesters died and several were wounded when security forces opened fire on demonstrations in the capital, Sana'a, and the southern city of Taiz. A fourth protester shot and injured in demonstrations on Sunday also died yesterday.
Thousands took part in the huge anti-government demonstration in Taiz, which has been the hotbed of protests demanding Mr Saleh's resignation of the president, Ali Abdullah Saleh. Talat Abdullah Ghalib, 34 and a father of four, was shot in the chest and died in hospital. At least four other protesters were injured.
About 10,000 people had rallied in front of the criminal investigation prison in Taiz to demand the release of seven protesters arrested during an attack on demonstrators in the morning.
The protest organisers called for rallies today for what they called Martyr Day to express solidarity with the victims of the protests and mobilise efforts to increase pressure on the regime.
Protesters have intensified their efforts during the past few days in Taiz with a general strike. Most schools were closed. More than 125 people have been killed in the protests since February 11.
Tens of thousands also took to the streets in Sana'a yesterday and thousands demonstrated in Aden, Ibb, Al Hudaydah and other cities.
The Sana'a protest turned violent when security forces opened fire and lobbed tear-gas canisters and stun grenades at the protesters as they tried to make their way to the capital's main thoroughfare. The protesters replied by throwing stones.
At least two protesters were killed and five were in serious condition in hospital.
Khaled al Ansi, a protest organiser, said about 60 were injured by bullets or sharp objects. A number of those injured were believed to be police officers who had joined the protesters.
An ambulance accompanying the protesters, carrying four female doctors, was seized and taken away by security forces. Mr al Ansi said that if the ambulance and the doctors were not released, the protesters would storm the riot police's headquarters.
hdajani@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by the Associated Press
