Yemen brushes off reports of deaths

SANAA, Yemen, April 25 (UPI) -- Reports describing the death of an anti-government protester in the southern province of al-Baida are false, a Yemeni security official said Monday.

Protests in Yemen continued Monday despite a weekend announcement that embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh would step aside in 30 days. Saleh has faced rising opposition pressure for much of the year despite repeated concessions offered to his opponents.

The country's military is alleged to have fired on protesters. Hundreds of people were reported killed in Yemen during anti-government demonstrations this year and the BBC reports at least one person was killed Monday in the country by security forces.

The official Saba news agency in Yemen said the reports that one person was killed in al-Baida were incorrect. Najm el-Din Harrash, described as the security director for the southern province, said media accounts of the violence weren't credible.

"Harrash confirmed that anti-regime marches have roamed the streets of al-Baida without any intervention by security men, denying the occurrence of any incidents, assaults or rioting during those marches," the Saba report read.

Saleh's latest offer came with the help of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council. The BBC adds that demonstrators continued to call on Saleh to step down immediately.