Police and anti-government protesters clashed in Yemen on Sunday, during the third-consecutive day of demonstrations calling for political reform and the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Several thousand protesters tried to force their way into the central square in the capital of Sanaa, but faced fierce resistance from police forces.
An 18-day public uprising in Egypt that led to the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak has emboldened protesters in Yemen and other Middle Eastern nations. Yemenis have been protesting since Friday, when they took to the streets to celebrate Mubarak's exile.
Iona Craig, the editor of the Yemen Times, said Sunday's protests were led by university students and recent graduates who have not found jobs in the impoverished country.
"This has been the first time since a grassroots demonstration has gone on in Sanaa. Before that the demonstrations had been organized by the political opposition. It is quite a change in the city today," Craig told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel.
In an attempt to quell the uprising, Saleh has already promised not to run agains. Saleh has been in power for three decades and will see his term end in 2013.
On Sunday, protesters chanting "people want to overthrow the regime", tried to reach Sanaa's downtown Hada square.
Twenty-three people were arrested during clashes between police and protesters. Witnesses said plainclothes policemen carrying daggers and sticks joined the forces to drive the protesters back.
The Associated Press reported that members of the ruling party were shuttled into the square with tents, food and water, to help prevent the protesters from gathering there.
A barbed wire fence was built around Hada square and Qat, leaves chewed as a stimulant, was provided to police and supporters who spent the night.
With files from The Associated Press
