Last updated: 22 march, 2011 - 17:23 GMT
Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh warns of civil war
The killing of 50 anti-government protesters last week strengthened opposition to the president
The president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, has warned that any attempt at a military coup will lead to civil war.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been in power for nearly 32 years
He said he would step down by January next year, but only after organising parliamentary elections.
His offer was rejected by the Yemeni opposition, which wants him to leave immediately.
President Saleh faces a threat from a growing protest movement which in the past few days has been joined by generals, ambassadors, tribal leaders and other senior officials.
Gregory Johnsen is an expert on Yemen at Princeton University.
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First broadcast 22 March 2011
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