Saleh's supporters seek to stop meeting with Gulf envoy

May 22, 2011, 14:29 GMT

Yemeni anti-government protesters carry a big sign with the date \'22nd of May\' written in Arabic, as they are attending a celebration to mark the 21st anniversary of Yemen\'s unification, in Sana\'a, Yemen, 22 May 2011. Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters held a huge rally in Sana\'a to mark Yemen\'s unification anniversary while supporters of President Ali Abdullah Saleh blocked roads leading to the Siteen street to prevent more people from joining the protesters in their celebrations. Saleh, who has been ruling the country for 32 years, was expected to sign a Gulf-brokered power-transfer deal after it was signed by opposition on 21 May. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB

Sana'a - Supporters of Ali Abdullah Saleh encircled the United Arab Emirates embassy in Sana'a on Sunday to prevent the envoy of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdullatif al-Zayani, from meeting Yemen's embattled president, who is under pressure to sign an internationally-brokered power-transfer deal.

Saleh has been asked to sign a Gulf-brokered deal that would end his 32-year-old rule and quell the unrest in the country. The opposition signed the deal on Saturday.

'The signing in closed rooms is unrecognizable and reflects bad intentions,' the ruling General People's Congress said.

Hundreds of people also surrounded a building where Saleh was located in a bid to prevent him from leaving.

'Of course, these people were instructed to do so,' an eyewitness told the German Press Agency dpa. 'The situation is currently very tense here,' he added.

Saleh has refused to sign the Gulf-brokered deal on two previous occasions, despite intensive diplomatic efforts to end more than three months of political stalemate in Yemen.

Eyewitnesses said that Saleh's followers were also searching people on the streets of the capital, checking their identity papers.

Meanwhile, security officials blocked most roads to the Siteen street, where anti-government protesters held a huge celebration to mark the 21st anniversary of Yemen's unification.

'In all languages, we tell you, we are the people of Yemen, and we went out demanding freedom,' one protester told the crowd.

At least 140 people have been killed and thousands injured since the uprising in Yemen started earlier this year.