Military sources have revealed that President Ali Abdullah Saleh was onboard the helicopter that flew over the rally organized by the opposition on Thursday.

President Saleh watched the rally at Sana'a University and the rally his party organized in Tahrir Square.

He almost heard protesters chanting slogans including those urging him and his regime to depart, Al-Shara newspaper quoted the military sources as saying.

Seeing the helicopter over them leaders of the Joint Meeting Parties and protesters raised their heads and chanted Saleh leave and slogans criticizing his policies.

After the dueling rallies on Thursday by the ruling party and the JMP, President Saleh thanked the Yemeni people for patience and not responding to violence calls and the security authorities for civilized response to rallies.