Sana'a, Mar 20 (IANS): Additional troops were deployed in in the Yemeni capital and other major cities Saturday to enforce a state of emergency following worsening clashes with the protesters. The toll in Friday's shooting deaths of protesters in Sana'a rose to more than 50.

Yemen's Human Rights Minister Huda Al-ban resigned Saturday in protest against the killing of protesters. Her deputy Ali Saleh Taisir also resigned, Xinhua reported. They blamed the ruling party for excessive use of force against protesters.

Security has been beefed up across the country to enforce a 30-day state of emergency declared by President Ali Abdullah Saleh Friday, said an interior ministry official.

Ali al-Fakih, one of the organizers of Sana'a anti-government protests, told Xinhua that the toll in Friday's attacks on protesters in Sana'a rose to 51. He added that hundreds of people were injured, some critically.

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets Saturday in the southern provinces of Ibb, Taiz, Aden, Hodayda and Hadramout to condemn what they described "bloodbath by the security authorities against peaceful protesters" and show support to the families of victims.

Earlier, Judicial Minister Hamoud al-Hitar and Tourism Minister Nabil al-Fakih had resigned for the excessive use of force against protesters.

Former culture minister Abdulwahab al-Rawhani and former agriculture minister Jalal Faqirah quit the ruling party Friday.