Leaders of the Yemeni army announced Monday their rally to protest against President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has assured the people that supported him despite calls for redoubled his departure.
In addition, the main tribal leader, Sheikh Sadek al-Ahmar, asked President Saleh, in power for 32 years to retire, adding its voice to those of traditional and religious leaders, whose role is critical in this poor country 24 million inhabitants.
Two regions commanders, General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, head of the north-east which includes the capital Sanaa, and General Mohammed Ali Mohsen, head of Eastern Military District, declared themselves in favor of the protesters.
Their defections were the first of this magnitude in the ranks of the army, and two other generals: Nasser Ali Chouaibi in south-east, and Faisal Rajab, in the south.
Despite these defections, President Saleh, 68, said the "majority of the people" supports it.
"The vast majority of people with Yemeni security, stability and constitutional legality.And those who call for chaos, violence, hatred and sabotage are a tiny minority, "assured the president to Sanaa.
Previously, General al-Ahmar, from the most influential tribe in the country, had accused Al-Jazeera the head of state to "repress peaceful protesters" and "push the country towards civil war".
In Sanaa, dozens of officers have announced their allegiance to a crowd of protesters who braved still on the University Square a ban on demonstrations to demand the departure of President Saleh.
In the morning, tanks were deployed in the center of the capital, especially around the presidential palace, the seat of the ruling General People's Congress (GPC), the Department of Defense and the Central Bank.
In Aden (south), the second largest city, General Chouaibi has supported the protest, along with 60 officers of the province of Hadramout and 50 officers from the Ministry of Interior. And the governor of the province, Ahmad Qaatabi, submitted his resignation.
These rallies to protest came as the tribal leader, Sheikh Sadek al-Ahmar, President Saleh has asked to "avoid bloodshed and to opt for a graceful exit."
His defection adds to those of regime officials who have propagated these days, forcing the president Saleh to sack the government on Sunday night, after the resignation of three ministers.
According to the official news agency Saba, M.Saleh has asked his cabinet to "caretaker until the establishment of a new government."
The ambassadors of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Ali al-ahwal, and Kuwait, Sheikh Khaled Rajeh, also announced on Monday to join the protest movement against President Saleh.
Five ambassadors of Yemen in Europe have written to President Saleh to ask him to resign, according to the Yemeni ambassador in France, Khaled al-Akwa.
The departure of President Saleh is "indispensable" found on his side the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppe.
The dispute has gained momentum after the death of 52 people killed in an attack Friday against protesters in Sanaa.The killings attributed to supporters of the regime marked the bloodiest day since the end of January in protest.
This massacre was sentenced Monday by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, visiting Cairo. "The Yemeni government has an obligation to protect civilians," Ban said, supporting a "comprehensive dialogue".
