A Yemeni protester died of gunshot wounds Wednesday after being hit when police opened fire overnight on anti-regime demonstrators in Sanaa, a medical official said.

The protester was wounded when police fired live bullets and tear gas to disperse a student demonstration outside Sanaa University. He later died of his wounds in hospital.

Three other demonstrators were also wounded by gunfire, while some 60 others were hurt due to police beatings with batons or inhaling tear gas, the official said.

A security official said that 12 policemen were wounded by rocks hurled by demonstrators.

Police had intervened to prevent protesters from erecting tents in a street close to the University Square, where demonstrators have been camping since 21 February an AFP correspondent said. The protesters demand the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power in Yemen for 32 years.