Protesters demand interim ruling council- SANA'A: Tens of thousands took to the streets of the capital Monday, demanding that the president's sons leave Yemen as pressure rose for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down. Protesters also demanded formation of an interim ruling council to prevent the wounded president from returning to power. Ahmed Saleh, 42, is a one-time heir-apparent to his father, who was badly wounded in an attack earlier this month. A ruling party official had said last week the president would return home soon from medical treatment in Saudi Arabia. In his absence, pressure has been mounting at home and abroad for Saleh to step aside after nearly 33 years in power. His son Ahmed Saleh commands the elite Presidential Guard, the country's best equipped and trained military unit. The force has played a key role in protecting his father's regime since pro-democracy protests erupted in February. The protesters Monday called for Ahmed Saleh to leave, along with his brother Khaled, who is also an army commander. Their demonstration led to the closure of major streets in the capital. Most stores shuttered down, but there were no immediate reports of clashes with security forces. More than 100 influential religious clerics and tribal leaders have called for the president's ouster and elections to choose a new leader, saying he is unfit to return to his post. Militants, meanwhile, are taking advantage of the internal strife to overrun parts of the country. In the southern port of Aden, government forces early Monday killed one militant and wounded two others in an exchange of fire near the offices of the local branch of the Central bank at Crater, the city's ancient historic port district. Militants also seized two towns in the southern province of Abyan late last month and attacked a town in a neighboring province last week. Military officials Monday raised to 17 the number of militants killed in fighting in Abyan the previous day and said at least five soldiers, including two senior officers, were killed when a mortar hit their position. — AgenciesCaption: Taking to the streets Army soldiers who defected and anti-government protesters shout slogans in Sana'a during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the departure of his sons, Monday. (AP) __
