World Bulletin/News Desk

Yemeni protestors took to the streets in capital Sanaa and other cities on Saturday to demand – for the first time - the resignation of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the expulsion of armed militias from the country.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in al-Taghyeer Square in downtown Sanaa and marched through several streets to demand the resignation of Hadi, an Anadolu Agency correspondent reported.

Demonstrators also called for bring to justice those responsible for Wednesday's attack on Sanaa's police academy, in which 40 people were killed and over 70 wounded.

Participants in the protest - which was organized by youth movement Rafd (rejection) and other activists – also demanded the expulsion of armed militias from Sanaa and other cities, and expressed rejection of the idea of enlisting them in the ranks of the police and military, in reference to Shiite Houthi militants.

A similar protest was staged in the central city of Taizz, Yemen's most populated city.

In a statement, the organizers of the protest called for "extending the state's control over various provinces, and for supporting the army and security forces in maintaining security of the country."

They also rejected the deployment of Houthi militants in the city, amid reports that the Shiite movement plans deploy its militants in the city under the pretext of combating corruption.

Fractious Yemen has remained in the throes of turmoil since the ouster of long-serving President Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2012.

The Shiite Houthi group recently took control of Sanaa and has since tried to extend its influence to other parts of the country.

This has brought the group into conflict with local Sunni tribes and Al-Qaeda, the latter of which is said to remain active in Yemen.