Tribes turn against Yemeni president

SANAA, Yemen -- Yemen's embattled president suffered back-to-back blows Saturday. Hundreds of thousands called for his ouster in the largest anti-government rallies yet and two powerful chiefs from his own tribe abandoned him.

The huge turnout reported in towns and cities across Yemen and the defection of the tribal chiefs were the latest signs that President Ali Abdullah Saleh may be losing his grip on the impoverished, conflict-ridden country.

Saleh appeared to be hardening his stance, after initially offering protesters to engage in dialogue and promising that the security forces would not use force against them. Yemeni TV on Saturday quoted him as telling army commanders that the armed forces will not hesitate to "defend the security of the nation as well as the unity, freedom and democracy."

On Friday, troops opened fire on demonstrators in the port city of Aden, killing at least four and wounding 43, according to security and medical officials. The London-based Amnesty International said it has received reports that at least 11 protesters were killed in Yemen on Friday, and that security forces prevented residents from taking some of the wounded to hospitals.

Tens of thousands of members from both the Hashid tribe and Baqil, the second largest tribal federation in Yemen, marched Saturday in Emran to denounce the president and demand his ouster.