SANAA: Tens of thousands of supporters of Yemen’s Shia rebels rallied in Sanaa on Friday to press for the government to step down, as a large number its backers held a counter-demonstration.

Supporters of Shia rebel leader Abdulmalik al Huthi have been threatening a “painful” escalation against the government which they accuse of corruption.

Three days of talks last week between authorities and the Zaidi Shia rebels, known as Huthis or Ansarullah, failed to reach a deal to end the impoverished country’s latest political impasse.

“The people want the fall of the government. We will not back away. We will step up the pressure,” the protesters chanted as they rallied in northern Sanaa.

They massed on a road leading to Sanaa airport after Friday prayers.

At the same time, tens of thousands of government supporters rallied in southern Sanaa, calling for unity and solidarity with the cabinet.

Huthi’s followers want the resignation of the government, the scrapping of fuel price rises and a broader political partnership.

The rebels have had armed fighters camped around Sanaa for the past week and held protests almost throughout August.

An official close to the presidency said that talks between the government and the Huthis could resume on Saturday.

“A meeting is expected to take place and the presidential committee tasked with leading the dialogue will present a new approach to end the crisis,” the official said. He said the plan calls for the creation of a new government of technocrats.

Yemen has been locked in a protracted transition since long-time strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced from power in February 2012 after a deadly 11-month uprising.

Plans for a six-region federation have been rejected by both the Huthis and southern separatists, and the government is also battling Al Qaeda militants mostly in the south and east.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2014