Protesters abducted, journalists attacked as Yemen demonstrations erupt

Several protesters were reportedly abducted on Saturday by members of the Houthi movement during a demonstration against the group in Yemeni capital Sanaa.

The Houthis abducted an unknown number of protesters, including youth activist Fouad al-Hamdani, and attacked several others with bladed weapons, eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency.

Scores of protesters took part in the rally, which was called by Yemeni activists to protest what they describe as Houthi "coup" against President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi. 

Similar protests broke out in the central provinces of Taizz, Ibb and Dhamar.

As of midday Saturday, Houthi leaders could not be reached for a comment on the allegation.

The apparent abductions come after what Houthi chief Abdulmalik al-Houthi called a "historic" conference on Friday night between the Houthis and the country's ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh who is believed to back the group.

At the three-day gathering that has been boycotted by all other Yemeni political parties, the group and Saleh's General People's Congress are discussing how to end the country's political crisis. The meeting is reportedly under heavy Houthi guard.

Protests erupted against the meeting in several cities on Friday under the slogan: "Revolt until the overthrow of the coup", in reference to the militia.

Demonstrators demanded the release of scores of activists and journalists who have been rounded up by the Houthis since their take over of Sanaa last September.

In this past week, 25 journalists were attacked in the capital, mostly by Houthis, the Sanaa-based NGO Freedom Foundation for media freedoms, rights and development reported.

Witnesses said Houthis kidnapped Radwan Masoud, head of the students union, after Friday prayers.

Already undergoing a fractious transition process following the ousting of Saleh in 2012, Yemen was plunged into deeper crisis last week when the Houthis, which overran Sanaa in September, seized the presidential palace and key government buildings, prompting Hadi, his prime minister and cabinet to resign.

Some Yemenis who have discussed the unfolding situation with MEE - one that UN special adviser on Yemen Jamal Benomar said this week could erupt in violence at any time - say they have been sent reeling.

Though the fate of Hadi, who has garnered a reputation as a political lightweight and was called 'Mrs Saleh' during the years he served as the former president's deputy,  was sealed for many Yemenis the day he took his job as president in 2012, many were still taken aback when he resigned.

"The government's resignation didn't surprise me, but Hadi's was shocking," said Abdo Al-Fageeh, a 39-year-old entrepreneur.  

Other Yemenis have seen the developments as an opportunity for a fresh start in the country.

"He [Hadi] was in office three years without making any improvements," said businessman Ali Mohammed, 40. "The government needed to be pushed. We are the one's pushing them."