Saleh sighting agitates protesters in New York

New York: A protest against embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh outside a luxury hotel in New York got heated on Sunday when demonstrators saw him leave the building, with one charging towards him and another throwing a shoe.

The dozen angry protesters were kept behind police barricades across the street from the Ritz-Carlton hotel, which was teeming with security guards, both inside and on the sidewalk where Saleh passed.

The 69-year-old leader is visiting the US for treatment. He exited the hotel on Central Park South on Sunday afternoon and waved and smiled sardonically toward the yelling protesters — even blowing them a kiss. Suddenly, one of them tried to charge across the street but was restrained by police, who wrestled him to the ground.

As the man bolted out, a shoe flew in Saleh's direction, but Saleh got into his car and his motorcade left.