Protest continue in Yemen

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Yemen, demanding that Ali Abdullah Saleh, the current president, step down. The protests come a day after the US department of state stated that they hoped a transfer could be signed within a week reports the AP.

"We will noot be broken, we win or die," the protestors chanted, reports AFP.

Saleh has been holding onto his post as president of Yemen tightly, though local, regional and international pressure for him to leave office has been strong.   He currently resides in Saudi Arabia, where he was receiving treatment after being injured in an attack on his compound, reports AP.

Saleh has promised to sign the power transfer, a proposal by the six nation gulf cooperation council, multiple times this year, but has repeatedly backed out at the last minute. The proposal offers Saleh and his family immunity from prosecution over the deaths of the protestor. Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak is currently undergoing a similar prosecution, AP reports.

A Yemeni government official, retuning to Yemen from Saudi arabia, has officially stated that Saleh will not be returning to Yemen. He spke on condition of anonymity, to reporters with AP.

On Thursday, the US issued a statement which said that Saleh would be resigning shortly. However, anti-Saleh protestors have continued to show support for a power transfer, according to AP.

In Taiz, on Thursday, protestors were openly fired upon by government forces. Al Qaeda militants have also been taking advantage of the internal unrest in the country.  The United States has supported Yemen's military agains al Qaeda militants in the southern portion of the state. US officials have stated that they remain concerned about reports of continued violence in the Yemeni government.