UN special envoy Jamal Benomar briefed the Security Council on Tuesday, and diplomats said Britain has been drafting a resolution on Yemen in consultation with France and the United States to present to the full 15-nation council.

“We hope the world’s conscience will be awakened! We hope the UN will take a historic step for the Yemeni people,” a speaker called out to the crowd gathered on Sanaa’s 60 Street, where they were waving UN flags and peace signs.

“We call to the world, our voices high — no protection, no guarantees, the people want to try the president! The people want to try the murderer!” they chanted.

Clashes between security forces siding with protesters and soldiers loyal to Saleh killed more than 100 people four weeks ago, but have all but abated as all sides await moves by the Security Council.

The UN special envoy left Yemen earlier this month after a fruitless two weeks trying to mediate between Saleh’s government and the opposition.

Protesters in Yemen first took to the streets in January of this year to demand reforms and an end to Saleh’s grip on power in the impoverished country, where two-thirds of the population live on less than $2 per day.

The Security Council issued a statement on Yemen in late June voicing “grave concern” and supported mediation efforts by Gulf countries. Russia and China had initially objected to that statement, but diplomats in New York said they were not likely to block the newly proposed resolution.