At least 20 people were wounded in Yemen and some 200 suffered from tear gas inhalation Thursday when anti-regime protesters clashed with loyalists, backed by police, medics and witnesses said.
In Taez, south of Sanaa, at least 15 people were wounded in clashes with police and partisans of the ruling General People's Congress (GPC).
President Ali Abdullah Saleh's loyalists attacked thousands of students who took to the streets calling for his ouster using rocks and batons, witnesses said.
Police fired tear gas and live bullets, some people being hit by the gunfire and leaving at least 200 people suffering from breathing difficulties, medics and witnesses said.
In the capital Sanaa, five protesters were wounded in an overnight attack by masked men on a sit-in calling for the end of the regime, witnesses and activists said Thursday.
Witnesses told AFP the attack on demonstrators in the square in front of Sanaa University was carried out by men wearing masks, whom anti-government activists said were "thugs" loyal to the regime.
The attackers used guns, clubs and daggers.
Thousands of people have camped out in the square since 21 February, demanding the departure of Saleh, who has been in power since 1978.
Yemen is a US ally in the war against terror, and is also fighting Shia rebels and a secessionist movement.
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