Machine guns reportedly used against protesters in Yemen (VIDEO)

Yemeni government forces opened fire with machine guns on demonstrators in Taiz, while three were shot dead in Al Bayda, according to news organizations who are quoting witnesses and medics.

Dozens were wounded Thursday as fresh clashes erupted between security forces and protesters demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a day after at least nine people were killed in anti-government unrest, VOA reports.

On Wednesday, at least nine people were killed and dozens wounded in the incidents which took place during rallies in at least three cities.

Three demonstrators were shot dead and seven wounded by police in Al Bayda, 180 miles from the capital Sanaa, according to the opposition website al-Sahwa. 

According to one report, at least 19 people have been killed in 48 hours. 

The U.S. State Department has joined the European Union in "harshly condemning these events."

Earlier this week, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council urged Yemen's government and opposition leaders to sign an agreement calling for Saleh's resignation.

In a statement, council members said the accord — which calls for Saleh to hand over power to a deputy and step down within 30 days — represented Yemen's "best way" out of its political crisis and would "spare the country further political division and deterioration of security."

Saleh has reportedly refused to sign the agreement.