Yemen: Protests Continue Away from International Media Eyes

This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.

Yemeni protesters in Sanaa earlier tonight

Yemeni protesters in Sanaa earlier tonight

With the entire world watching Egypt as it celebrates the uprooting of its dictator, Yemenis are calling for help and the world's media attention.

On Twitter, the calls came loud and clear. A rally started in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, in celebration of the ousting of Hosni Mubarak. Soon, it turned into an anti-Saleh protest, calling for an end of Ali Abdullah Saleh's rule.

Police surrounded the protesters, and there were reports of fire shots. Wounded protesters, taken to hospitals, were arrested – at least that is what I understood from a frenzy of tweets.

To add to the confusion, and in the absence of many citizen journalists in Yemen, there seems to be unrest in Aden, to the South, and in Taiz.

Here are some of the reactions I have been able to gather from Twitter. The last the three tweets list tweeps reporting on Yemen, some from the ground – voices we will have to watch closely to figure out if Yemen will go Tunisia's and Egypt's way or not:

@wsaqaf: A #Sanaa rally hailing #Egypt #Jan25 #revolution turned to anti-#Saleh protest calling for the end of regime in #Yemen http://goo.gl/ka8J9

@AhlamS: North #Yemen protesters have takin’ it to the streets! Video shot just an hour ago: http://ht.ly/3UXCX

@al3ini: 15 000 demonstrators protest in front of the governor office in the governorate of #Taiz and refusing to leave #Yemen #JN_yemen #AliSaleh

@al3ini: People want to liberate the South in Aden, and in #Sana people want to overthrow the regime .. two demands (cont) http://tl.gd/8osbe5

@AhlamS: Yemeni's are requesting media ground coverage of Sana'a and Aden! Don't sleep on #Yemen!

@WomanfromYemen: dear tweeter from around the world, Yemenis are counting on you to get our voices heard. Yemen isn't Egypt, it wont be covered the same way.

Police surrounded the demonstrators without using any force in Sana'a. #yemen

Police surrounded the demonstrators without using any force in Sana'a. #yemen

@AhlamS: Look @ that might fine group of demonstrators n SanaaYemen (w/police surrounding them w/o usin force) http://twitpic.com/3yqh22 (via @yemen)

@AhlamS: Protestors Yemen's Tahrir Square in #Sanaa http://on.fb.me/hHMFPa #yemen #JR_Yemen

@WomanfromYemen: MORE armed security arrived in #tahrir, reports of gun shots fired! #jr_yemen #sanaa

@YafaKlan: @al3ini @jnovak_yemen south just wanted justice. no1 listened. Then they wanted 2 overthrow. No1 listened. Now they want freedom #yemen

@wsaqaf: I think #Yemen opposition & activists are planning to take advantage of a shaky #Saleh. Will #Time prediction be right? http://goo.gl/Lq4zk

@tweetminster: Several people are tweeting of protests in southern #Yemen. Police have reportedly opened fire on demonstrators.

@stupiditytries: @AJELive @AJEnglish @AymanM @SherineT can you guys please have the network cover the yemen situation. this is happening RIGHT NOW.

@mujahideenryder: things are picking up in yemen. that revolution might be bloody due to all the guns everyone has.

@alialsaeed: can't get any confirmed reports on whats going on in yemen, but apparently thousands are on the streets + being fired at by police! #Yemen

@yemen: The first picture of the demonstrations in Sanaa now! No firing & No violence from the police. #yemen http://twitpic.com/3yqda2

@yemen: Police surrounded the demonstrators without using any force in Sana'a. #yemen http://twitpic.com/3yqh22

@yemen: Police fired in the air to disperse demonstrators right now in Sana'a #yemen

@yemen: Police arrest any person who does not come out of Thrir in Sana'a. i'm going home now #yemen

@yemen: Watch the chants of the Yemeni youth in Tahrir Square, Sana'a http://on.fb.me/hnmZTH #yemen

@JNovak_Yemen: #yemen police drag wounded #protester from hospital Ali Naasra lkadhi, today 10pm yemtime (1/2 hr ago) shot at protest by police now jailed

@JNovak_Yemen: #Yemen live fire appears over, now police arresting wounded protesters at hospital. #Aden #Feb11

@JNovak_Yemen: #Yemen #Crater #Aden tense after injuries, fatality: youth burning tires, some warning shots by police

@BintAlnass: #AliSaleh n his tribal thugs have been killing innocent ppl kidnapping tourist n basically taking ever human right away from its ppl #Yemen

@Faaz71: For news updates on Yemen I created a list. Check @Faaz71/yemen – Suggestions and tips welcome.. #yf #yemen #feb11 #jan25 #sidibouzid

@WomanfromYemen: @Karoli for info from ppl in yemen follow: @AlaaIsam @al3ini @yemen @Abou_3ali @Nefermaat @Yemen_2011 @JNovak_Yemen @lalkilani @ionacraig

@Abou_3ali: @Faaz71 you can add @yemen @al3ini @AlaaIsam @JNovak_Yemen @yemen4change @Yemen_Freedom @WomanfromYemen @Nefermaat @AhlamS @UKguy4justice

Photocredit: Facebook page for the Yemeni Youth for Change Movement (under formation)

This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.

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