Anti-regime protesters gather at Sanaa University (YEMEN)

Anti-regime protesters gather at Sanaa University in the Yemeni capital on February 16, 2011.

The rally began with several hundred students protesting inside the university gates. Aside for calls for a better curriculum, they demanded the removal of the university dean and called for security forces to remain off-campus. The demonstration was organized by the head of the university's student union, said Omar Al-Nihmi, a third-year media student at the university.

About 90 minutes later, the mood turned anti-government, said third-year student Salah Al-Janadi.

More students showed up, both Al-Nihmi and Al-Janadi said, and the protesters began chanting anti-government slogans such as "The people want the fall of the regime" and "Oh Ali, son of Saleh, your regime is no good." They also chanted, "Our protests are peaceful and we don't have weapons."

Shortly afterward, hundreds of pro-government demonstrators turned up -- but they were outside the university gates, while the students were inside. The pro-government demonstrators began throwing rocks, Al-Janadi said.

Al-Janadi said he was told by the protest organizers "that because today's protest was a student union protest at the university, security forces at the scene would not interfere." Hundreds of police were on the scene as well. They did not interfere with protesters, Al-Janadi said, but fired bullets into the air, successfully dispersing the crowds. It was at least the sixth day that scuffles had broken out between pro- and anti-government protesters in Yemen, amid unrest and anti-government demonstrations in other Middle Eastern countries. There are no reports of injuries.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been in power for 32 years and has pledged not to run for re-election when his current term ends in 2013.