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President Ali Abdullah Saleh returns to Yemen Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh returns to Sanaa
(40 minutes later)
Yemeni state television says President Ali Abdullah Saleh has returned to the country three months after surviving an assassination attempt. Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh has returned to the country from Saudi Arabia three months after surviving an assassination attempt, officials say.
He went to Saudi Arabia in June for treatment following a bomb attack in the grounds of the presidential palace. Yemen TV said President Saleh arrived in the capital, Sanaa, by private plane at dawn. No other details were given.
President Saleh, who has been in power for more than 30 years, has resisted calls for his resignation. He went to Saudi Arabia in June for treatment following a rocket attack on the grounds of the presidential palace.
Clashes have continued in the capital Sanaa between government troops and forces opposing the president. President Saleh, who has been in power for more than 30 years, has faced months of protests urging him to quit.
Yemen TV said President Saleh arrived in Sanaa by private plane at dawn on Friday, as heavy fighting raged in the city. No other details were given. Correspondents say his return raises the risk of all-out civil war.
More than 80 people, mostly unarmed protesters, have been killed in Sanaa since Sunday. "We're definitely going to have an escalation of violence, but let him come back - we want him to come back and be tried for his crimes," said protest organiser Mohammed al-Asl.
Hopes are fading of a lasting ceasefire between the sides, to enable a reform process to take place in which President Saleh would yield power. Activists have been camped out in Sanaa's Change Square since January demanding an end to his rule.
Clashes in the capital between government troops and forces opposing the president have recently intensified.
More than 80 people, mostly unarmed protesters, have been killed since Sunday.
Medics say at least one person was killed overnight and many others wounded when mortars landed in Change Square.
Ceasefire collapse
On Friday, correspondents in Sanaa reported a surge in artillery and machine-gun fire.
Yemeni state TV broadcast old footage of Mr Saleh and played national songs as it reported his return.
The Yemeni embassy in Washington confirmed President Saleh had returned.
In Sanaa, anti-Saleh protesters have called for more rallies after Friday prayers.
"His return means more divisions, more escalation and confrontations," protest leader Abdel-Hadi al-Azizi told AP news agency.
"We are in a very critical escalation."
The fighting in Sanaa is mostly between supporters of President Saleh and soldiers loyal to a top general who defected to the opposition in March.
Hopes of a lasting ceasefire between the sides, to enable a reform process to take place in which President Saleh would yield power, are fading.
On Tuesday the government agreed a truce following negotiations with Western envoys. However, the ceasefire broke down hours later.On Tuesday the government agreed a truce following negotiations with Western envoys. However, the ceasefire broke down hours later.
Since then government troops and forces opposing President Saleh have been exchanging gun and shell fire in Sanaa. Are you in Yemen? Do you have relatives there? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
Reports said about 10 people had been killed on Thursday by shelling and also by sniper fire. Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can class="inlineText" href="http://bbcnewsupload.streamuk.com/">upload here.
Activists have been camped out for eight months in Sanaa's Change Square demanding an end to President Saleh's rule. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/2780295.stm#yourpics">Read the terms and conditions
A fresh attempt by the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) to mediate a solution to the crisis ended on Wednesday without success.