Saleh rejects GCC proposal

Yemeni army soldiers gesture from their vehicle as opponents and supporters of president Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Friday rejected a GCC proposal that he step down within 30 days from the date of his acceptance of the deal. Speaking at a rally of his supporters, Saleh said he would accept the GCC proposal only if it is within Yemen\'s constitutional framework. Under the constitution, Saleh\'s term as president ends in 2013.
He also denounced the opposition. \"We strongly reject all plots against freedom, democracy and political pluralism. They (the opposition) want to grab power via coups.\" he said. \"You have to remain firm before the renegade and cowardly elements. We will confront (their) challenge with challenge.\" Saleh said he is determined not to fire the first bullet. \"We will not cause bloodshed. We will confront them with all means without causing bloodshed.\"

The official media put the number of Saleh\'s supporters, who gathered near the presidential palace on the \"Friday of Reconciliation,\" to over 100,000.
In an apparent attempt to parade their huge turnout and mount pressure on Saleh\'s regime, the youth-led street protesters moved their protests\' epicenter to Al-Sitteen Street in the capital where thousands of people converged Friday. The crowd rejected any initiative that grants Saleh and his family immunity, and called for his immediate and unconditioned departure.
The pro-democracy protesters said that the narrow streets at Taghyir Square could not show their real strength. The rally was escorted by soldiers loyal to Gen. Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmer, who has defected to the cause of the opposition.
In the city of Taiz, anti-Saleh protesters staged a huge demonstration and chanted slogans against Saleh\'s regime and rejected any compromise. Similar protests were organized in cities of Mukalla, Ibb and Maren.
In a separate development, at least 11 soldiers were killed Friday when militants raided a military checkpoint in the province of Mareb, a stronghold of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a local journalist told Arab News.