Islam Times - Yemenis hold demo, demand dismissal of Saleh loyalists

Islam Times - Yemenis have staged massive protest rallies across the country, demanding the expulsion of the deposed dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh’s loyalists from the Army.

The huge demonstrations were held in the capital Sana’a and southern cities of Taizz and Ibb on Sunday.

Members of the military joined the protest rallies, calling on the new President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to purge the military of the associates of Saleh's regime.

The protesters also condemned the government's decision to cut salaries of the military personnel.

Last week, Saleh formally stepped down following months of anti-regime protests in the country, and was replaced by Hadi, his vice president, in a single-candidate election backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Hadi was sworn in following the election on February 21, which pundits described as a mockery of democracy.

Yemenis have been protesting against the United States and Saudi Arabia since then, blaming them for keeping the former regime remnants in power.

Many powerful military units still remain under the control of Saleh's relatives.

Yemeni people have also been calling for the prosecution of the former ruler and his aides over the killing of protesters in a deadly crackdown against popular anti-regime protests that emerged early in 2011.