Tens of thousands rallied in Sanaa on Friday to "reject" Yemen’s dependence on the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Tens of thousands rallied in Sanaa on Friday to "reject" Yemen's dependence on the United States and Saudi Arabia, saying badly burned President Ali Abdullah Saleh was "politically dead" after his TV appearance.

In Sittine Road, west of Sanaa, anti-Saleh protesters gathered carrying banners reading: "Saudis and Americans, keep out of Yemen's affairs" and "Ali Saleh is politically dead."

Demonstrators also called for the immediate resignation of Ali Abdullah Saleh and the formation of a transitional council to rule the country and to prevent Saleh from returning to power.

A similar rally took place in Yemen's second-largest city Taez, south of Sanaa.

Saleh, 69, has been hospitalized in Saudi Arabia, and out of the public eye, since he was badly injured in a bomb attack at his presidential palace last. Amid growing speculation over his condition, he finally appeared on Yemeni television on Thursday night.

His face burned and his hands covered with bandages, Saleh, who spoke from a hospital in Saudi Arabia where he has been receiving medical treatment. He was barely recognizable and sat stiffly as he spoke in the pre-recorded statement.

"Saleh's appearance was meant to boost his loyalists' morale and to pressure the opposition to accept his son and relatives in political life in Yemen," Mohammed al-Asal, a member of the youth revolt's information committee, said.

Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi has faced mounting domestic and international pressure to assume power after Saleh.

But Hadi's grip on power is seen as shaky as Saleh relatives continue to run main security systems. Key among them is Saleh's son, Ahmed, who leads the elite Republican Guard.

Saleh has refused to cede power despite protests that have left at least 200 people dead across Yemen, saying repeatedly that under the constitution he should serve out his current term of office which expires in 2013.

His speech on Thursday lasted only a few minutes and fireworks lit up the sky in Yemen and celebratory gunfire was heard across the country when Saleh appeared, witnesses said.

The gunfire killed four people, medics said.