Houthis Stage Anti-Govt Rallies İn Sanaa For 2Nd Day

Supporters of Yemen's Shia Houthi group staged demonstrations in capital Sanaa for the second consecutive day on Tuesday to demand the dismissal of the government following a decision to lift petrol subsidies.



Shouting slogans against the decision, protesters called on President ABD Rabbuh Mansur Hadi to "make up his mind or [he] will be replaced" if he did not respond to calls to sack the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Basindawa.



The protests come as groups of Houthi supporters flocked to several protest encampments set up at the city's main entrances in response to calls by group leaders for mass anti-government rallies in the capital.



In a statement issued following an emergency meeting with aides, Hadi vowed to take "firm legal action" against the rallies – which came in response to calls by group leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi – describing them as "reckless," Yemen's state news agency reported.



The Houthi group has said on its website that the encampments would receive protesters until Friday – the deadline given by al-Houthi for sacking the government and rescinding the decision to lift petrol subsidies.



The Shia Houthi movement first appeared in 1992, taking Yemen's northern Saada province as its main base of operations. Several rounds of subsequent fighting between the group and the army have left thousands dead on both sides.



Yemen has been dogged by turmoil since pro-democracy protests in 2011 forced Saleh to step down after 33 years in power.



In late July, the Yemeni government decided to raise petrol prices by 75 percent and diesel fuel by 90 percent with the stated aim of easing the burden on the state budget.



For more than a year, Yemen has tried to secure a loan of at least $560 million from the International Monetary Fund, which has in turn demanded a raft of reforms, including subsidy cuts.



By Mohamed al-Samei



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Sana