Yemeni president sacks government

SANAA: Yemen besieged President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Sunday dismissed his government deal with mass demonstrations demanding his resignation, the state news agency Saba reported.
"The president dismissed the government, but asked the firm to remain in a caretaker position until a new one is formed," said Saba.
The announcement came as tens of thousands of people came to Sanaa on Sunday for the funeral of most of the 52 people killed by loyalist Saleh two days earlier.
The victims were killed Friday when snipers raked protesters near Sanaa University Square ball on the surrounding rooftops.
The protest movement against Saleh began in late January.
The opposition says the president - a key ally of the United States in the war against al-Qaeda in the region - must resign this year, but he refused to leave until his current term expires in 2013. Saleh has been in power since 1978. (AFP)