SANAA, Yemen, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A national committee must investigate deaths and injuries reported during protests in the south of Yemen, the Yemeni president said Thursday.
Protests in Yemen continued Thursday despite pledges from Yemeni President Abdullah Ali Saleh that he would push for reforms and not seek another term during 2013 elections.
Several people were killed and others were injured during protests Wednesday in the southern Yemeni province of Aden.
Saleh ordered his top Cabinet officials Thursday to form a national committee to investigate the riots that broke out in Aden, the official Saba news agency reports.
Top Yemeni clerics are calling for a national unity government in order to quiet demonstrators pressuring Saleh, al-Jazeera reports.
The clerics said if Saleh doesn't agree to form a unity government and have new elections by the end of the year, the country would face the same fate as Egypt and Tunisia.
Yemeni officials, however, said the government wouldn't fall because Saleh regularly meets with members of the opposition.
Police continued efforts to keep demonstrator at bay Thursday. Al-Jazeera reports that police were firing live ammunition at protesters to disperse crowds.
Saleh is reportedly meeting with senior tribal elders to end the political violence in his country.
