Tens of thousands hold rival rallies in Yemen

Tens of thousands hold rival rallies in Yemen - latimes.com: "* Demonstrations in three Yemeni cities * Police cordon off rival demonstrators * 17 people have been killed in protests in past nine days (Updates protests in Aden) By Khaled Yacoub Oweis SANAA, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of supporters and opponents of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh held rival demonstrations in the capital on Friday, in a test of support for the veteran leader's 32-year rule. Protesters outside Sanaa University, repeating slogans which have echoed round the Arab world since the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, chanted: 'The people demand the downfall of the regime.' About 4 km (2 miles) across town, loyalists shouted support for a leader they said was holding the fractured and impoverished tribal nation together. 'The creator of unity is in our hearts. We will not abandon him,'"