The U.S. has voiced its support to the Yemeni people to express themselves with freedom as massive protests have started in Yemeni cities calling for change in the aftermath of the revolution that ousted Tunisian president this month.

U.S. Department of State spokesman Philip Crowley said in a statement:" We know there are protests in Sana'a, the capital, and other Yemeni cities and our message remains: we support the right of the Yemeni people to express themselves and assemble freely".

The U.S. applauded the Tunisian revolt, saying the Tunisian people were brave and great after they had forced their president out office and out of the country earlier this month.

The country also announced support to protests demanding changes in other regional countries, mainly those in Egypt, as it urged regimes to promote democracy and serve their people.

Tens of thousands of Yemeni people took to the streets in Sana'a and several Yemeni cities on Thursday demanding political change and economic reforms.

At the massive protests organized by the opposition, protestors condemned unilateral moves by the ruling party including the being-studied constitutional amendments that allow Saleh to rule for a lifetime and the insistence on holding the upcoming parliamentary elections on time.

They carried placards reading: "the elections are unconstitutional and illegal".

The people did not march or walk in the streets, however, during the rallies protestors held sit-inns and others stood on their feet from the early morning until noon to show strong protest.

Protestors also carried placards reading: no to povertization policy and rosy colored papers on which some slogans were written, and others were seen wearing red bandages around their heads and chanting slogans urging the Joint Meeting Parties, the opposition, to move for change.

The rallies held in separate places in the capital also condemned the coup against the republic and unity, presidential term extension and succession, corruption and the rule of the one family.