2nd week of protests possible in Yemen

Anti-government protesters in Yemen called for more protests after the Friday noon prayers, possibly ushering in a second week of unrest in the Middle East nation.

It was unclear whether an appeal for calm by the country's most influential religious cleric, Sheikh Al-Zindani Abdulmajeed would be followed. On Thursday, he said religious clerics in the country were called for a government of national unity.

Of an official government source expressed his surprise at the attention of the turmoil was over the globe to generate a number of accusing the media of "false, misleading and biased information," the state-run Saba news agency reported Thursday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that "at least four photo journalists were attacked, beaten and had their cameras confiscated" by pro-government supporters at the protests.

The developments come a day after a person was slain and more than two dozen injured in protests in Yemen, witnesses and an opposition legislator reported.

A 18-year-old protester died in Aden on Thursday when police fired to disperse demonstrators, said Aref al-Qubati, a participant who said the victim was a friend. It was the second fatality reported in the past two days in Aden, where the authorities cut off power to the Al-Mansoora area and fired in the air to break up the crowd of about 3,000.

At least 12 people were injured in clashes with security forces throughout the day, witnesses said. But journalists are excluded from Al-Naqeeb the city hospital, and about 400 guards around the facility.

Longtime Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has called for an investigation into the violence in Aden and Abdu Rabo Mansour, Vice-President Hadi met with the governor Thursday, Saba reported.

The summit of European Union foreign policy official, Catherine Ashton, is "very concerned" about the events in Aden, her representative said in a statement Thursday.

Ashton "strong loss of life and deplores violence and calls for calm and restraint from all parties," the statement said, calling for "genuine, comprehensive and inclusive national dialogue."

And in the capital of Yemen, Sanaa, at least 20 people were injured in clashes between stone-throwing pro-and anti-government protesters, the opposition lawmaker Ahmed Hashid said Thursday. Police at the scene did not try to intervene, he said.

In Taiz, thousands to participate in demonstrations that went sixth day Friday.

Saleh met with his National Defense Council on Wednesday to discuss the developments in Yemen, Saba reported.

The Council underlined practice their rights under the Constitution, in a quiet way and without violence, chaos, sabotage and lawbreaking. "

Saleh also spoke on Wednesday with Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah, whose country is also embroiled in turmoil, Saba reported.

"He noted that arrangements aimed at bury the region into chaos and violence against the nation's security and stability of the country," said Saba. "Those who commit vandalism and disorder (are) simply the implementation of suspicious foreign agendas ..."

The report does not suggest who might be behind the agenda.

Yemen is among several Middle Eastern nations convulsed by daily protests after the uprisings that the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt collapsed in recent weeks. Anti-government protesters have called for the expulsion of Saleh, who has ruled the country since 1978.

The country is plagued by a Shiite Muslim uprising, a US-backed attack on al-Qaeda active, a southern separatist movement in its once independent and a looming water shortage.

In an attempt to suppress the growing discontent, Saleh has announced that he did not seek another term in 2013 and would postpone elections scheduled for April and more time to reform talks with the opposition.