With a throng of supporters scrambling to get near the ex-president, Wednesday’s large-scale gathering was reminiscent of 2011, when in the midst of Yemen’s Youth Revolution, rival Friday demonstrations were held in Sana’a on a weekly basis: one for Saleh and the other for the pro-democracy protesters who sought an end to his 33-year-long presidency.

On a large banner which also proclaimed that they were attending Wednesday’s gathering in Sana’a under the auspices of their sheikh, tribesmen from the town of Al-Qafra delivered the following message to United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar: “We will overcome your harassment with harassment of our own.”

A family Ali Abdullah Saleh supporters at a gathering in Sana'a, Yemen which was held in honor of the ousted president.

A female supporter of Ali Abdullah Saleh was among the thousands who turned out for the ousted president's public speech in Sana'a, Yemen.

Supporters of Ali Abdullah Saleh performed the traditional 'barra' dance at the ousted president's first public appearance in eighteen months, in Sana'a, Yemen.

Thousands of supporters turned out in Sana'a, Yemen for Ali Abdullah Saleh's first public appearance in 18 months.

Supporters of all ages turned out at Sana'a's Al-Sabeen Square to show support for ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Ali Abdullah Saleh's wore gloves to cover his hands, which sustained burn injuries during a June 3, 2011 assassination attempt in Sana'a, Yemen.

People in Sana'a, Yemen pass through a security checkpoint en route to a gathering in honor of ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

A child in Sana'a, Yemen wears a picture of Ali Abdullah Saleh at a gathering where the ousted president made his first public appearance in 18 months.

Speaker of the Parliament and GPC Party member Yahya Al-Ra'i was among those present in Sana'a, Yemen for ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh's first public appearance in 18 months.

A supporter of Ali Abdullah Saleh at the ex-president's first public appearance in 18 months, in Sana'a, Yemen.

Ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh made his first public appearance in Yemen in 18 months at Al-Sabeen Square in Sana'a, Yemen.

Thousands of supporters turned out for ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh's first public appearance in 18 months, in Sana'a, Yemen.

A citizen uses his tablet to record clean-up efforts hours after the military plane crash.

A deaf and dumb soldier at the site of the crash used gestures to explain how the aircraft struck the impacted buildings.

A nearby resident stepped out from his home to take in the commotion which surrounded the crash site.

Wreckage is taken from the site of a military aircraft crash in Sana'a.

At the site of a military airplane crash in Sana'a, Yemen, a truck was loaded with debris.

The site of the military aircraft crash in Sana'a, Yemen.

A policeman puts up crime scene tape at the site of a military airplane crash in Sana'a, Yemen.

A soldier takes a moment's rest on the edge of a truck carrying debris from the military aircraft crash site in Sana'a, Yemen.

Red Crescent workers survey the scene of a military aircraft crash in Sana'a, Yemen, which left at least 12 dead.

Soldiers at the scene of Sana'a's airplane crash site used force against bystanders.

Soldiers and medical workers at the site of a military airplane crash in Sana'a, Yemen.

At the site of a military airplane crash in Sana'a, Yemen, medical workers waited at the scene in case survivors were found.

After a few hours, it became clear to both bystanders and medical staff, including these Red Crescent workers, that there would be no further survivors to be found.

A burned automobile is lifted from the site of the military aircraft crash in Sana'a, which left at least 12 dead.

Supporters of the Yemeni Socialist Party participate in a parade marking the the two-year anniversary of the launch of Yemen's Youth Revolution.

Female nurses and doctors who attended to injured protesters in under-equipped makeshift hospitals in 2011 received loud cheers from spectators during a parade in Sana'a marking the two-year anniversary of the launch of Yemen's Youth Revolution.

Family members of some of the thousands of protesters who lost their lives in Yemen's Youth Revolution carried photos of their deceased loved ones on the two-year anniversary of the revolution’s launch.

Men of all ages who were injured in Yemen's Youth Revolution participate in a parade marking the two-year anniversary of the revolution's launch on February 11, 2011.

In order to get a good view of a parade commemorating the beginning of Yemen's Youth Revolution, people climbed high buildings lining Sana’a’s Sixty Meters Road.

A broad cross-section of Yemeni society attended a large celebration in Sana'a marking the beginning of Yemen's Youth Revolution.

Young men demonstrate for the release of protesters who were imprisoned during the course of Yemen's Youth Revolution on Sana'a's Sixty Meters Road.

On the two-year anniversary of Yemen’s Youth Revolution, a young man on Sana'a's Sixty Meters Road holds up a flag with the words 'One Yemen' written on it.

Yemen’s part in the Arab Spring saw increased visibility for a number of segments of society. These included handicapped pro-democracy protesters, who participated in a Sana’a’s celebration commemorating the launch of Yemen's Youth Revolution.

As a way to demonstrate a contrast with Yemeni life under former president Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime, in Sana'a, female university graduates proudly carry their diplomas through the streets of a post-revolution, ‘new Yemen’.

As part of a massive display of the Yemeni flag’s colors, young women prepare to march down Sana’a’s Sixty Meters Road, where thousands of people awaited a parade on the two-year anniversary of the beginning of Yemen’s Youth Revolution.

A young man holds up a large photo of a policeman who lost his life in the course of Yemen’s Youth Revolution during a celebration on Sana'a's Sixty Meters Road.