SANAA - Hundreds of Yemeni women rallied in southern provinces of Shabwa and Ibb in support of the constitutional legitimacy of President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Tuesday, state Saba news agency reported.

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The women in both provinces held banners and chanted slogans demanding Saleh to not accept any pressures by the opposition coalition that seek to topple the constitutional legitimacy, Saba said.

The demonstrators visited some military and security barracks to distribute gifts and cake to the soldiers and thanked them for maintaining the security, stability and unity of the country.

Rocked by nationwide anti-government protests which demand an immediate end to the 33-year rule of Saleh, Yemen's security and stability have also been undermined by Shiite rebellion in the north and resurgent al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula in eastern and southern provinces.