At the end of the ceremony marking the May 22, 1990, unification of North and South Yemen, Taez Gov. Hamoud Al-Soufi announced a presidential amnesty for journalists who have cases before courts or court rulings on public rights." He said Saleh had called on journalists "to devote their pens to the service of the nation and promote national unity."

In a televised speech on the eve of the Unification Day, Saleh extended an olive branch to the opposition, offering to form a national unity government and announcing an amnesty for imprisoned southern separatists and Shiite rebels in northern Yemen.

On Friday, Saleh also invited all political groups inside and outside Yemen to take part in "a responsible national dialogue, within the framework of the constitutional institutions."

"We welcome a national partnership with all political forces in the light of the constitution and within the framework of a collective agreement," he said. "A government could be formed from all influential political forces represented in the Parliament especially our basic partner and the unity and our partner in defending the unity," he added.

Saleh said that he intended to turn a new page with his people and to remove the impacts of 1993 turmoil and 1994 civil war.

"On this auspicious occasion, I order the release all those detained on charges of rebellion in Sadaa and outlaws (a reference to the southern separatists) in the districts of Lahj, Abean and Dha'ai, hoping that they will benefit from the amnesty and be good citizens," he said.

In a first reaction, the Shiite rebels said the announcement was a "major step forward toward achieving peace and establishing security and stability" in Saada, the rebels' stronghold.

"We welcome ... the release of all the detainees," rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdessalam said.

"We hope for the release of all the detainees ... as this step will help permanently end the war" which first broke out in 2004, he said, estimating the prisoners to number 1,000.

"We hope the authorities' intentions are true," he said.

Following the president's speech, fireworks were released in the skies of Taez and other governorates. Since the beginning of May, thousands of flags were distributed across the country to highlight the significance of the day and posters in the streets appealed for national unity.

However, the separatists in the south didn't wait for the president's Unification Day address. Strongholds of the Southern Movement witnessed confrontations between security forces and demonstrators who took to the streets to mark the 15th anniversary of what they call "Disengagement Day."