Large rallies in support of Yemen military reforms They may have held separate rallies but Yemeni men and women came out in support of major reforms of the military on Thursday. President Abd Rabbu Mansour recently issued decrees restructuring the armed forces into four major units. He also abolished the elite Republican Guard and the First Armoured Division. We see it as a positive move to build a new Yemen. These are brave decrees taken by the new president for the purpose of building up the country," said Iman Ali, a female protester who joined a rally through the capital, Sanaa. Commentators think the changes have helped dismantle the power structure that former President Ali Abdullah Saleh built up during his 22-year rule. The say that loosening Saleh's grip on the military is key to maintaining stability in a country that's been dogged by terrorism and sectarian clashes. But critics say it will deepen political rivalries with supporters of the ex-president. More about: Military, Rally, Yemen, Yemen politics