Yemenis March Against Saleh

Thousands of Yemeni residents demonstrated in Sana’a, asking the United Nations Security Council to implement a resolution that supports a deal made by the Gulf Cooperation Council for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to relinquish his power.

"We hope the Security Council will remove the lid on this regime, the injustice of this nation for 33 years, and we wish they would issue sanctions against Ali Saleh and freeze his assets, and return them to the Yemeni people to build a new Yemen," said a female protester.

Men, women, and children held banners, U.N. Flags and peace signs at the demonstration. One protester said that the Yemenis would not give up until their goals are fulfilled.

Meanwhile, Britain has been liaising with France and the United States on a draft resolution, according to diplomats.

The Security Council released a statement in June expressing its concern about the Yemeni crisis and stressing support for the GCC’s mediation efforts.

Despite Russia and China objecting to the statement initially, diplomats in New York said the likelihood of them vetoing the resolution was slim.

Nearly a month ago, fighting broke out between protesters and Saleh loyalists, leaving more than 100 people dead.

Speaker:

Shatha al-Twrasi – resident