Saleh refuses to quit as battles rage in Yemen

Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh said yesterday that he will not step down or allow the country to become a "failed state", as battles raged and protests, left, continued in the capital for a third day.

Mr Saleh's comments suggest he is prepared to escalate the fight against powerful opposition tribes that have been locked in urban combat with government forces since Monday.

The clashes have left at least 41 dead, and sharply increased chances that the uprising could turn into a militia-led revolt.