Massive demonstrations were held in several Yemeni cities including the capital Sana'a, Taiz and Dhamar with hundreds of thousands of antigovernment protesters urging to form a transitional council.

In Sana'a, a spokesman for the youth-led protesters in the change square outside Sana'a University said, after thousands of people marched Street 60th, they had given a 24-hour deadline for the concerned political parties to form a transitional council otherwise the revolutionaries will do that.

Meantime, the Defense Ministry has accused defected forces, which announced support to the popular uprising mainly those led by commander Ali Muhsen Al-Ahmer, and the tribal fighters loyal to the Hashid sheikh Sadeq Al-Ahmer of planning to attack public offices.

On Monday, Al-Ahmer's office accused the army of continuous attacks on tribesmen and houses, though acting president Hadi ordered the forces to retreat from the streets and affirmed that security and providing necessary requirements amid acute shortages were top priorities while managing the country's affairs.

Powers was transferred to Hadi after President Saleh left to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment after the deadly attack on his palace.

In Taiz, the situation remained tense on Tuesday after fierce clashes erupted late Monday between armed people and the armed and security forces.

Armed crowds flooded into Taiz in the past days to face the deadly crackdown on the antigovernment protests. They are now roaming the streets and conducting sporadic battles with the army after they had vowed to defend the city until the regime was ousted, locals said.

In Abyan, at least 15 people were killed and others injured late Monday in confrontations between the security forces and armed people in the capital Zunjbar.