Tens of thousands of people protest in Yemeni capital

In Yemen tens of thousands of people have taken part in rival demonstrations in the capital Sanaa.

Anti-government protesters, demanding the immediate resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, occupied a main square and surrounded streets.

Elsewhere President Saleh addressed a crowd of his own supporters denouncing the protests against him.

He said he was prepared to transfer power but only to what he called "safe hands".

A BBC correspondent, who we cannot name for security reasons, sent this report from Sanaa.