Yemen rejoices Prez’s departure

Thousands celebrate on the streets of Yemen after Ali Abdullah Saleh flees country to be treated for rocket wounds in Saudi Arabia

Yemen rejoices Prez's departure

Thousands celebrate on the streets of Yemen after Ali Abdullah Saleh flees country to be treated for rocket wounds in Saudi Arabia

Thousands celebrated on the streets of Yemen after the country's authoritarian leader fled the country after an attack on his presidential palace.

Yemenis pray as they celebrate the departure of President Saleh.u00a0Women flash the V for victory sign after Saleh left for Saudi Arabia

President Ali Abdullah Saleh flew to Saudi Arabia for urgent treatment after he was hurt in a rocket attack on a mosque in his compound.

Saudi-owned television network Al-Arabiya reported he was was undergoing surgery, but did not say for what.

One of Saleh's allies said the president, in his late 60s, was hit by jagged pieces of wood that splintered from the mosque pulpit when his compound was hit by a rocket on Friday.

In Sanaa, protesters danced, sang and slaughtered cows to celebrate Saleh's departure.

Some soldiers in their military uniforms joined those dancing and singing patriotic songs. Many in the jubilant crowd waved Yemeni flags, joyfully whistling and flashing the V for victory signs.

Women in black veils joined demonstrators carrying banners that hailed Saleh's departure. One read: 'The oppressor is gone, but the people stay.'

In Taiz, Yemen's second largest city, dozens of gunmen attacked the presidential palace, killing four soldiers in an attempt to storm the compound, according to military officials and witnesses.

A Yemeni official said Saleh had left secretly with most of his family. He said he and others had been kept in the dark about the president's plans until after he had left.

Yemen's acting president previously the vice-president who under the constitution replaces Saleh in his absence Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, has taken over.

He is to meet members of the military and Saleh's sons. He has held talks with the US ambassador in Yemen in what will be seen as support for the handover of power.