Thousands of Yemeni anti-government protesters have taken to the streets in the capital Sana'a to demand the end of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule.

The protesters converged on three streets leading to a square near Sana'a University, where students and demonstrators have camped over the past days, and chanted slogans against Yemeni decades-long ruler on Tuesday, AFP reported.

"The people want the departure of Ali Abdullah Saleh," they chanted. "The people want to overthrow the regime."

Saleh has sought to stem the discontent by promising not to stand for election again when his term finishes in 2013.

Yemen's opposition groups have, however, rejected the proposal and are planning demonstrations across the impoverished Arabian Peninsula state on Tuesday.

At least 27 people have lost their lost their lives since pro-democracy protests began in Yemen on February 11. Some 40 percent of the population lives on less than $2 a day, a third face chronic hunger.