Former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh attends a rally to mark the anniversary of Yemen's peaceful power transfer in Sanaa, Yemen, on Feb. 27, 2013. Saleh handed over power to Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi under a power transfer deal last February. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

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Saleh, his supporters rally to mark anniversary of Yemen's power transfer

SANAA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and hundreds of thousands of his supporters held a rally in the capital Sanaa on Wednesday to celebrate the first anniversary of a power transfer that ended deadly protests against his 33-year rule.

During his first public appearance after he handed over power to Abd-Rabbu Mansuor Hadi, the current president on Feb. 27, 2012, he called for forgiveness for the past.  Full story

 A supporter of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh participated in a rally to mark the anniversary of Yemen's peaceful power transfer in Sanaa, Yemen, on Feb. 27, 2013. Saleh handed over power to Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi under a power transfer deal last February. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

Hundreds of thousands of supporters of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh hold a rally to mark the anniversary of Yemen's peaceful power transfer in Sanaa, Yemen, on Feb. 27, 2013. Saleh handed over power to Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi under a power transfer deal last February. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

Former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh (C) attends a rally to mark the anniversary of Yemen's peaceful power transfer in Sanaa, Yemen, on Feb. 27, 2013. Saleh handed over power to Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi under a power transfer deal last February. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)