SANAA, Yemen — Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis are rallying across the country in support of a military shake-up this week that reduced the powers of the ousted leader's son and relatives.
President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's shake-up brought the Special Forces and Republic Guard run by ousted leader Ali Abdullah Saleh's son under the control of the Defense Ministry.
Saleh ruled Yemen for 33 years and was forced to step down after massive protests during the Arab Spring uprising. The United States helped broker the power-transfer deal, which eased him out of office.
Since his ouster, Saleh has been blamed for using loyalists in powerful posts to stall reforms by the new leadership.
Demonstrators on Friday voiced support for the shake-up, chanting: "Move forward, Hadi, for the dreams of our nation."
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