Protests start in Yemen, despite concession from presidentBy the CNN Wire StaffF

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http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/03/yemen.protests/

Protests start in Yemen, despite concession from president

By the CNN Wire StaffFebruary 3, 2011 1:08 a.m. EST

Sanaa,Yemen (CNN) -- What seemed like hundreds of anti-government protesters

gathered near Sanaa University in Yemen's capital early Thursday morning, a

clear indication that many in the country were not satisfied with President Ali

Abdullah Saleh's recent announcement that he would not seek re-election.

Demonstrators had said they would continue Thursday with a planned " Day of Rage "

march in Yemen despite Saleh's concession Saleh on Wednesday.

Trying to quell a growing discontent in the country, Saleh said he will not seek

re-election once his current term ends in 2013, after more than three decades in

office.

He won't install his son to replace him also, he said. He also has asked his

political opponents " to re-engage in dialogue in hopes of reaching a sustainable

and reconcilable political agreement, " the Yemeni government said.

Thursday's protest come amidst a similiar ongoing unrest in Egypt and a revolt

in Tunisia that forced that nation's longtime strongman to flee to Saudi Arabia

in mid-January.

CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom contributed to this report.