"We are escalating, and soon we will march directly towards the presidential palace," said Tawakul Karman, a prominent revolutionist. "The will of the people is stronger today, and Saleh is already part of the past."

In his address Sunday, Saleh blamed "terrorists" for recent deadly violence at anti-government protests. The motive of the "criminal terrorists," he said, is "to seize power and to steal the wealth of the country and to undermine stability."

Protesters insisted that Saleh was trying to buy himself more time in office with the remarks. Anti-government protests took place in eight Yemeni provinces. Though scores have been reported killed by Yemeni forces at protests in recent days, no deaths or injuries were reported Monday.

Saleh said his vice president has the authority to sign a proposal by the Gulf Cooperation Council that would result in early presidential elections.

The United States has called on Yemen to follow the council's proposal. Saleh's remarks came as tens of thousands of supporters gathered Sunday at a square in Sanaa, the capital, not far from where a large protests had taken place earlier.