Sana’a – Forces loyal to Yemen's embattled ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh have opened fire on anti-regime protesters in the southern city of Taizz.

According to Press TV, the attack on peaceful demonstrators occurred on Thursday in Taizz, where Abdullah loyalists have been shelling residential areas to quell protesters in the country's second largest city.

There were reports of casualties but it was not immediately clear how many people were killed and injured in the attack.

In other parts of the country tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to call for Saleh's trial.

The demonstration came as a show of outrage against the new coalition government between the revolutionaries and Saleh's regime.