SANAA, Yemen, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Some 20,000 demonstrators took to the streets in Sanaa, Yemen, demanding a change in government, observers said.
Protesters shouted slogans such as "People want the regime to fall. People want Saleh to go," the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.
The demonstrations, which coincided with an uprising in Egypt and follows protests that led to the resignation of Tunisia's president, came despite assurances from President Ali Abdullah Saleh Wednesday he will not seek re-election when his term ends in 2013, nor will he attempt to pass on the presidency to his son, The Wall Street Journal reported.
"As president of this country, I will not stick to my guns, whatever the circumstances. I will make concession and compromises for the sake of this nation which is above our own interests ... . No to hereditary rule and no to life presidency," Arab News. com quoted Saleh as telling Parliament.
Saleh said he planned to introduce comprehensive reforms to expand "the social security network and will open the door for underwriting in the domains of cement, telecommunications, oil and banks," the Web site quoted him as saying.
Opponents described the concessions as "insufficient," the Journal said.
Ahead of Thursday's rally commercial banks reported large cash withdrawals by citizens, the paper said.
Saleh who was last re-elected in 2006 has ruled the country for 32 years.
