Profile: Ali Abdullah Saleh of the Yemen - BBC News

April 23, 2011, at 23: 10 GMT update Mr. Saleh has maintained a strong following within the Yemen despite the turbulence popular Ali Abdullah Saleh has proved to be one of the most stubborn leaders of the Arab worldproject an image resembling a man of State, even affable, in the teeth of popular opposition, unlike some of his counterparts from sharp in during the spring of "Arab".

While the Yemen saw the bloody repression of demonstrations in the capital Sanaa and other cities, the President sought - with decreasing success - distance themselves from violence.

Critics say that it is a cunning politician, using all means and escape to stay in power, promising output policy to wait his time in an effort to extend its fourth decade at the top.

"[He] was always held by creating confusion, crisis and sometimes fear among those who might put in him,"expert Yemen Sarah Phillips wrote an article for the newspaper The Guardian of the United Kingdom.""

Mr. Saleh led one of the most difficult countries in the region, a vulnerable poor state militancy, positioned between the oil-rich authoritarianism of Gulf States and the anarchy of Somalia and still healing from a division of the Korea-like during the cold war.

Now, approaching his 70th year, he has often compared the task of the decision to Yemen "dance on the head of snakes".

Balancing Act

The Republic of the modern Yemen is inextricably tied to Mr. Saleh, elected the first President after reunification in 1990.

Born in Sana'a and receiving little education, he worked his way through the army of the Yemen in the North, was injured during the civil war of 1970 between Republicans and royalists supported by Saudi Arabia.

Taking part in a coup four years later, he took his first national in 1978, when leadership role Parliament endorsed him as President.

12 Following years saw the painstaking work of Marxist unification, South Yemen, a process that appears briefly collapsed in 1994 when civil war broke out.

Abroad, Mr. Saleh has largely reached the delicate task of keeping the Western and Arab powers aside.

His battle for control of al-Qaeda - who have felt a comparable basis in Afghanistan - to the Yemen in the 1990s won him friends in Washington.

Otherwise, the Americans could keep of a leader who had remained close to Saddam Hussein the Iraq during the occupation of the Kuwait.

Turning point

The spectre of civil war is something that Mr. Saleh continued to refer to justify its hold on power.

"[The opposition] they want to drag the area of civil war and we refuse to be moved to the civil war," he said in a speech on April 22, the eve of the news broke that he had agreed to leave the impending power.

"Safety, security and stability are in the interests of the Yemen and the interests of the region."

The shooting of 45 people by snipers at a rally of the opposition in Sanaa on March 18 had proved a turning point for the most part, despite its denials that its security forces took part.

Ministers and ambassadors have abandoned in protest, and the crowd in the streets grow in the weeks that followed.

With outrage now added to the anger at the corruption and poverty, he did not address for decades, "snake dance" days of Mr. Saleh appeared to be almost more.

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Saleh of Yemen may close in exchange for immunity, official says - BusinessWeek

April 24, 2011, 4: 41 am EDT by Mohammed Hatem and Glen Carey

(Updates with comment fifth and seventh paragraphs.) See the EXTRA and places to learn more about regional unrest).

April 24 (Bloomberg) - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has accepted a plan negotiated in the Council of the Gulf Cooperation that allows it to relinquish power in exchange for immunity, a government official said.Saleh would transfer power to a Deputy Minister within 30 days and hold elections 60 days after that this, Tarik al-Shami, spokesman general decision of the Congress of the people, said in a telephone interview yesterday. The opposition must put an end to demonstrations and accept immunity for Saleh and his assistants and all of the terms of the GCC plan, said al - Shami .the GCC officials seek to avoid an escalation of violence in the country, or a military fatal gap like in Libya. Growing social unrest also threatens to strengthen al-Qaeda seeks to use the Yemen, the poor Arab nation, as a base to destabilize the neighbor Saudi Arabia, the largest exporter of crude oil.Saleh would be the third leader forced from Office since popular unrest spreading across the Middle East, this led to the overthrow Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia.Police and snipers killed 46 demonstrators in Sanaa, the capital, last month, which prompted several military and Government officials to abandon the system of Saleh. A total of 109 demonstrators have been killed since February 11, according to Majed al-Madhaji, Arab sisters Forum spokesperson for the human rights of the Sana ' A.Longtemps "it is possible that Saleh is manoeuvring," Theodore KarasikDirector of research at the Institute based in Dubai for the Middle East and the military analysis of the Gulf, said today in a telephone interview. "The more time that it gets the better it is for himself and his followers.". Thirty days is long in Yemeni politics and it is likely to be more disputes. "The United Arab Emirates United, Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan urged all parties to the Yemen to accept the plan of the CCG at a meeting yesterday with his Yemeni counterpart, Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi, said Emirates News Agency. The GCC "keeps on stability and unity of the Yemen," Sheikh Abdullah was quoted as saying by the press service.The plan of the Yemen Council could "solve the political crisis in a peaceful and orderly manner," the Obama administration yesterday said in a statement by the White House email. "We encourage all parties to act quickly to implement the terms of the agreement", said the statement.Protest against RightsA weak central Government in the risk Yemen also mirroring the situation in Somalia, across the Gulf of Aden, there where it has not been an administration works since 1991. Somalia became a breeding ground for pirates who attack shipping lanes.The Parties of the joint meeting, a coalition of six opposition groups, also accepted the plan of the CCG. They would not participate in a Government of national unity Saleh during the 30 days it will remain in power, said Mohammed al-Sabri, a leader in the opposition. They also support the right to protest. "When they said that the ruling party has accepted the plan, it was clear that he has accepted as Saleh is the President of the party,"said ruling party al-Shami. The party him Secretary General Abdel Latif al-Zayyani that he has approved the plan, said.Civil war RiskSaleh meeting with al-Zayyani April 21 to resolve the crisis. The Council, which includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates United, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait, held separate meetings this month with representatives of the General Congress of the people and the opposition.Saleh said yesterday that the opposition was pushing the country of the Arabian Peninsula toward civil war. "They want to drag the area of civil war and we refuse to be moved to the civil war, Saleh said in a speech to the military and students, the official Saba press service. He said power should change "at the ballot box and not by a coup," and those who want power "should be brave and to call for early elections if presidential or parliamentary elections," according to Saba.Protests continued yesterday in the city of Taizwhere the crowds demanded the end of the rule of the Saleh, Rashad Mohammed, an eyewitness, said by telephone. The majority of the stores of the city was closed for a general strike, he said. In Aden, more than 90 percent of shops, schools and businesses were closed on Saturday, said Marwan al-Yafee, an eyewitness.

-With the help of Todd Shields in Washington. Editors: Andrew j. Barden, Paul Armstrong

To contact the reporters on this story: Mohammed Hatem to Sana ' A-mhatem1@bloomberg.net. Glen Carey in Riyadh at the gcarey8@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew j. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net

View the original article here

Saleh of Yemen may close in exchange for immunity, says official

April 24, 2011, 4: 41 am EDT by Mohammed Hatem and Glen Carey

(Updates with comment fifth and seventh paragraphs.) See the EXTRA and places to learn more about regional unrest).

April 24 (Bloomberg) - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has accepted a plan negotiated in the Council of the Gulf Cooperation that allows it to relinquish power in exchange for immunity, a government official said.Saleh would transfer power to a Deputy Minister within 30 days and hold elections 60 days after that this, Tarik al-Shami, spokesman general decision of the Congress of the people, said in a telephone interview yesterday. The opposition must put an end to demonstrations and accept immunity for Saleh and his assistants and all of the terms of the GCC plan, said al - Shami .the GCC officials seek to avoid an escalation of violence in the country, or a military fatal gap like in Libya. Growing social unrest also threatens to strengthen al-Qaeda seeks to use the Yemen, the poor Arab nation, as a base to destabilize the neighbor Saudi Arabia, the largest exporter of crude oil.Saleh would be the third leader forced from Office since popular unrest spreading across the Middle East, this led to the overthrow Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia.Police and snipers killed 46 demonstrators in Sanaa, the capital, last month, which prompted several military and Government officials to abandon the system of Saleh. A total of 109 demonstrators have been killed since February 11, according to Majed al-Madhaji, Arab sisters Forum spokesperson for the human rights of the Sana ' A.Longtemps "it is possible that Saleh is manoeuvring," Theodore KarasikDirector of research at the Institute based in Dubai for the Middle East and the military analysis of the Gulf, said today in a telephone interview. "The more time that it gets the better it is for himself and his followers.". Thirty days is long in Yemeni politics and it is likely to be more disputes. "The United Arab Emirates United, Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan urged all parties to the Yemen to accept the plan of the CCG at a meeting yesterday with his Yemeni counterpart, Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi, said Emirates News Agency. The GCC "keeps on stability and unity of the Yemen," Sheikh Abdullah was quoted as saying by the press service.The plan of the Yemen Council could "solve the political crisis in a peaceful and orderly manner," the Obama administration yesterday said in a statement by the White House email. "We encourage all parties to act quickly to implement the terms of the agreement", said the statement.Protest against RightsA weak central Government in the risk Yemen also mirroring the situation in Somalia, across the Gulf of Aden, there where it has not been an administration works since 1991. Somalia became a breeding ground for pirates who attack shipping lanes.The Parties of the joint meeting, a coalition of six opposition groups, also accepted the plan of the CCG. They would not participate in a Government of national unity Saleh during the 30 days it will remain in power, said Mohammed al-Sabri, a leader in the opposition. They also support the right to protest. "When they said that the ruling party has accepted the plan, it was clear that he has accepted as Saleh is the President of the party,"said ruling party al-Shami. The party him Secretary General Abdel Latif al-Zayyani that he has approved the plan, said.Civil war RiskSaleh meeting with al-Zayyani April 21 to resolve the crisis. The Council, which includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates United, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait, held separate meetings this month with representatives of the General Congress of the people and the opposition.Saleh said yesterday that the opposition was pushing the country of the Arabian Peninsula toward civil war. "They want to drag the area of civil war and we refuse to be moved to the civil war, Saleh said in a speech to the military and students, the official Saba press service. He said power should change "at the ballot box and not by a coup," and those who want power "should be brave and to call for early elections if presidential or parliamentary elections," according to Saba.Protests continued yesterday in the city of Taizwhere the crowds demanded the end of the rule of the Saleh, Rashad Mohammed, an eyewitness, said by telephone. The majority of the stores of the city was closed for a general strike, he said. In Aden, more than 90 percent of shops, schools and businesses were closed on Saturday, said Marwan al-Yafee, an eyewitness.

-With the help of Todd Shields in Washington. Editors: Andrew j. Barden, Paul Armstrong

To contact the reporters on this story: Mohammed Hatem to Sana ' A-mhatem1@bloomberg.net. Glen Carey in Riyadh at the gcarey8@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew j. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net

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Violence spreads to the Yemen as foreign diplomats strive to put an end to the crisis - Los Angeles Times

Anti-government demonstrators shout slogans during a demonstration demanding the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sana'a. (Mohammed Huwais / AFP/Getty Images)Reports of Manama, Bahrain - shooting and funerals were spread across the Yemen as the international negotiators have yet to come up with a plan on Board President Ali Abdullah Saleh of power and prevent protests generalized to switch the impoverished nation into a civil war that could stimulate unrest in all the region.

Main cities of the country explosion almost daily violence as security officials and the thugs loyal to the Government attacked demonstrators anti-Saleh with tear gas and live ammunition. On Wednesday, a man armed motorcycle fired on a crowd in the city of port of Hudaydah West, killing a demonstrator.

As the protest movement approaches its third month, the international community, including the United States and Arab States, forced not Saleh to resign from his reign of 32 years, while the tribes and the Government representatives have abandoned him. Volatile leader, whose popularity has fallen in the midst of corruption and has no economic policy, has for weeks as contradicting the signals which have exasperated his allies and a growing list of enemies.

Saleh was quoted by the news agency saying that he would not be overthrown by "conspiracies or blows...." Those who want power or to gain the seat of power should be towards the ballot box. ?

A day after that of the United Nations Security Council could not agree on a statement on the Yemen, tens of thousands of anti-government protesters Wednesday sweeping the old streets of the capital, Sana'a. The demonstrators have is emboldened in recent days, pushing close to the heavily protected government offices.

The cooperation Council of the Gulf, which is composed of Saudi Arabia and five other Persian Gulf States, is concerned by the prospect of economic chaos and civil war from a Yemen already with a divided army, a secessionist movement, and a growing threat of Al Qaeda. As leader Libyan Muammar al-Gaddafi and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, Saleh is in relying on the brutality and veiled hints of compromise to silence dissent.

"We are close to a consensus of the GCC on the significance of departure of this regime," said Sultan Atawani, leader of the opposition of the nasserite Unionist Party, who met this week with senior diplomats from the United Arab Emirates United and other neighbouring countries.

The difficulty centred on the research of a mixture of solicitations will persuade Saleh to resign. One of the elements under discussion proposes the President and his family, including his son and parents who control the military and intelligence units, the immunity from prosecution in the deaths of more than 100 demonstrators. Western countries are calling on Saleh to hand power to his Vice President and for the elections to be held within 60 days after his departure.

"The issue of such guarantees may be used by the President to gain more time and commit new crimes," said Atawani. "We say to our brothers in the Gulf that such an approach can be made to the table of negotiations, but only by a new Government when it comes".

Officials insist on the fact that a post-Saleh scenario emerges. Under proposals supported by the countries of the Gulf, of Yemen, an incongruous collection of Socialist, Islamic and other opposition, would take the Presidency in a transitional Government. Representatives of the Party of the President Tuesday officials GCC in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in what appeared to foreshadow the eventual exit of Saleh met separately.

"The President has to negotiate to ensure a transfer of power now, or he will never have the chance," said Murad Azzani, policy analyst at the University of Sana'a. "What he wants to do now is to avoid the Egyptian scenario the President under arrest and his party dissolved." Saleh wants his party to survive and to exercise power through it. ?

But the General Congress of the people of the Saleh is in danger. Prominent members broke away to form the Justice and development. This political insurgency challenges directly control of near-monopoly of the ruling party of the Government to reach out to hundreds of thousands of young demonstrators angry with poverty and high unemployment.

"Above all, solidarity with the popular claims we represent and see that the Yemeni common interest lies with the immediate resignation of the President," said Abdul Aziz Jabbari, a former member of Parliament and founding member of the new party.

However, many young demonstrators, Don't feel represented by any political group. Slogans of "Not to the parties" and no impartiality glued to the tents of the demonstrators in Sana'a indicate that a new Government will have to deal with a powerful voice, deprived of their rights. It was the demonstrators, opposition groups or other parties, which forced the international community to intervene and put Saleh on the edge.

"Future leaders will have to have some resonance with the people," said Azzani. "These parties go anywhere if they are not anchored in the culture of the movement to the Yemen has been the witness".

Jeffrey.Fleishman@LAtimes.com

A special correspondent of Sana contributed to this report.

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New: The United Nations Security Council discussed Yemen - CNN

Supporters of President Ali Abdullah Saleh climbing on the Poles during a rally was held in the capital Sanaa, April 15, 2011.New: United Nations Security Council examines YemenNEW: UNICEF voices concern at the death of childrenNEW: killed at least 1 confirmed Wednesday

Sanaa, Yemen (CNN) - mounted Yemen Wednesday as world powers of losses to the political crisis paralyzing the poor and restive nation.

The United Nations Security Council met for the first time Tuesday to tackle hostilities Yemen, where anti-government protesters have clashed with security forces and pro-Government demonstrators over the past two months.

The efforts of the United Nations to deal with the crisis of the Yemen coincide with the initiative in the Gulf Cooperation Council six nations, or the GCC – a coalition of Arab Gulf nations working to ease tensions between the Government of the Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh and a restless opposition.

The Security Council could not agree on a joint statement, and it is not known if any diplomatic response will be forthcoming on the Yemen in the next few days.

But a diplomat said that Yemen first time on the agenda of the Security Council and perhaps he was "too early for everyone in agreement".

This world and regional diplomatic focus on the Yemen at the time where the demonstrators the streets in the capital of Sana'a and other cities across the country, the United Nations calls the world's poorest countries in the region.

One death was reported in Hodeida Wednesday, when the security forces in civilian clothing shot and killed one demonstrating, said sources.

Security officials in the city of the province said Aden Khormaksar soldier was killed and three others were injured. The security forces, said they saw at least six armed with machine guns, local residents attacked the security forces.

Eyewitnesses said the troops had been antagonizing the Khormaksar by implementing control points, questioning people in the streets and using threatening language.

The instability of the Yemen is rooted in basic economic and political grievances, but the instability of the country is the West. This is because the terrorist network al-Qaeda has a strong presence there. The Saleh Government has been a U.S. ally in the fight against Islamic militants there.

The United Nations, the Security Council was informed by a senior officer of the political affairs of the United Nations and United Nations sent to the Yemen. The Germany and the Lebanon has introduced a Declaration on the Yemen which would have called the moderation of the violence, among other themes.

Ambassador to the United States to the United Nations Susan Rice said at the United States and other nations discussed demanded deference and an end to violence in the Yemen with a credible transition to democracy.

The United States and the France wanted to express their support for the efforts of the GCC. The Germany expressed concerns about the deterioration of the situation in the Yemen the meeting and called on all parties to have a dialogue with the Yemen. He also expressed to the CCG.

But a diplomat U.N. said concerns of China and the Russia blocked a response unified to the evolution of the situation, and some countries wanted more time to consult their Governments.

Another organization of the United Nations, United Nations Children Fund, said Wednesday that too many children are exposed to the danger to the Yemen.

Spokesperson for the UNICEF Marixie Mercado told journalists in Geneva, Switzerland, that at least 26 children were killed, by real bullets or ammunition in the past two months mainly.

Another 15 children were killed in a large explosion at the factory of ammunition of Abyan in March "when civilians were reportedly pillaged the facility, which had been previously taken by militants."

Mercado said that more than 80 other children had been injured to beatings, rock-throwing or shootings. She said nearly 800 others were exposed to tear gas to the Yemen.Richard Roth of CNN Christine Theodorou in Abu Dhabi and Hakim Almasmari in Sanaa of CNN journalist, the United Nations has contributed to this report.

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Yemen military factions in murderous confrontation

Loyal to the Government armed men attacked the main rival of the Yemeni President forces killing one Wednesday at the beginning, and rearing of the popular unrest fears could evolve in battles rows between military factions.

Media State described the attack as a case of rapid reaction of the Government forces dissipate "provocative action" by major-General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, Commander of the 1st Armoured Division.

"The leader of the 1st Armoured Division is responsible for any attempt which could cause tensions of security", the Government statement said, raising the level of rhetoric between the two rivals of long date.

Military split of Yemen on 17 March, when President Ali Abdullah Saleh of the main rival for power, al-Ahmar, declared its solidarity with the protesters who were demonstrating for weeks the call for the overthrow of the President.

The move presented the troubling possibility of two well-equipped, stationed soldiers in the capital, fighting against him. Until the incident Wednesday at the start, however, he had been smooth.

Throughout the day, the capital was tense, with a security presence then usual higher on the streets and passers-by fearing that the conflict could spiral out of control.

"These clashes threaten the peaceful revolution." It is dangerous. If there is no compromise... the table could switch to everyone, "said Abdul-Rahman al-Rashed, Professor at the University of Dhimar in Sana'a and a political expert.

"It would be the last step in the regime." "The ordinary forces obey orders," he predicted, if the President was to continue a battle with the army.

Yemen was wracked by protests since mid-February on lack the country of freedoms and his extreme poverty. More than 120 people have been killed since the uprising began on February 11, inspired by popular revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt.

A protester bites a snake during a demonstration in the city of the South of Taiz Wednesday. (Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)

In the capital of the South of Aden, security forces clashed Wednesday with thousands of protesters who threw stones and tires, killing at least one person.

The army and riot police, backed by tanks and artillery, fired live bullets and tear gas in the port city, according to eyewitnesses. Medical officials said one person was killed and seven wounded.

Tens of thousands a also demonstrate in the capital Sanaa in some of the most important events to date for this poor nation that has already been undermined by the decrease of food supply, water and oil.

Until recently, the US authorities have expressed a degree of support for Saleh, but who was descendant of overwhelming popular opposition to his continued rule across the country.

Saleh is a close U.S. ally in the fight against al-Qaeda and a local franchise of the organization took root in the lawless backcountry of the Yemen, charting several unsuccessful attacks on America.

Later on Tuesday, armed plainclothes men armed from heavy machine-guns mounted on vehicles attacked the position of control North of the capital, controlled by men of al-Ahmar.

Local residents said they heard the sound of explosions, shots and saw flames shooting into the sky. Military authorities say the attackers were members of the Republican Guard and military police loyal to the President. Residents and officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The point control of the way to the northern province of Imran, a bastion of support for al-Ahmar of guards and may have been an attempt to stop more demonstrators hostile to the Government to jump in the city.

If the forces of al-Ahmar attempt to extract revenge for the attack, popular uprising of the Yemen could well become a style Libyan all out war, except with two evenly matched sides armed to the teeth with modern weapons.

Saleh has offered to resign his Office if an acceptable transfer of power is reached, but the opposition fears that it is fair to procrastination time.

The Gulf Cooperation Council six nations offered its own proposal Sunday to end the unrest and called Saleh to transfer power to his Deputy under an agreement with the opposition. The agreement does not, however, a calendar and included immunity from prosecution for Saleh and his family.

Opposition forces rejected the proposal.

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Yemen opposition spurns talks, defines Saleh deadline - Reuters

Demonstrators carrying posters of revolutionary leader Che Guevara (L) and the late President of the Northern Ibrahim al-Hamdi Yemen during a demonstration demanding the eviction of President Ali Abdullah Saleh of the Yemen in the South of Taiz city on April 13, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Khaled Abdullah

SANAA. Thu April 14, 2011 6: 11 am EDT

SANAA (Reuters) - the Yemen opposition has rejected an offer Thursday to join the talks mediated by the Gulf in Saudi Arabia on a transfer of power and set a deadline of two weeks for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign.

Gulf Arab Foreign Ministers had said that they would invite Saleh, who has faced two months of demonstrations demanding his resignation and his opponents talks mediation on a transfer of power. However, the opposition a fight on the offer.

"We renewed our focus on the need to accelerate the process of quality (Saleh) down for two weeks.". "So we go to Riyadh," said Mohammed al-Mutawakkil, a prominent opposition leader.

Allies Saudi Arabia and West of the Yemen fear a deadlock in the State of the Arabian Peninsula could ignite clashes between rival military units in the capital and elsewhere and cause chaos that would benefit from a wing based at the al-Qaeda Yemen active.

Opposition of the Yemen first rejected a statement by the Council of the Gulf cooperation framework for the discussions, had been to be held in Riyadh, because it seemed to offer Saleh a waiver of prosecution in the future and has not asked for an immediate transfer.

Later, they met the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and the Kuwait, Oman Tuesday seeking clarification of the understanding of the "transfer of power," GCC that does not specify a time for Saleh to resign.

Some opposition leaders had suggested that the talks could begin as early as Saturday, before said Mutawakkil clarifications offered by the ambassadors of the Gulf had been insufficient.

"We did not find in the clarification that the ambassadors presented everything which responds to our requests for immediate removal," said Mutawakkil. "There was nothing new by the ambassadors of the Gulf Cooperation Council."

Saleh agreed to the framework of the talks, even if another player key, General Ali Mohsen, a relative of Saleh, whose units are protecting the demonstrators in Sanaa, have accepted the plan of the CCG.

Technically, a transfer of power to the Yemen could last until the next presidential election scheduled for 2013, a perspective the opposition considers unacceptable.

Saleh has offered for new parliamentary and presidential elections this year in political reforms, but said that he should stay in power to oversee the change or to submit to what he calls the "safe hands".

(Reported by Mohammed Ghobari.) Written by Cynthia Johnston. (editing by Andrew Dobbie)

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Yemen recalls Ambassador from Qatar - Aljazeera.net

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Anger flares up in Yemeni town - Middle East - Al Jazeera English NewsIn DepthProgrammesVideoBlogsBusinessWeatherSportWatch Live AfricaAmericasAsia-PacificCentral & South AsiaEuropeMiddle EastFocusOpinionFeaturesInteractiveSpotlightBriefingsYour ViewsRiz KhanWitnessInside StoryListening PostPeople & PowerMore??Counting the CostNewsThe Business Blog??? Middle East Anger flares up in Yemeni town Protests erupt in Taiz a day after deadly anti-government demonstrations and president's rejection of proposal to leave. Last Modified: 09 Apr 2011 13:53 Email Article Print Article Share Article Send Feedback Al Jazeera's special correspondent reports on anti-government and pro-Saleh protests on Friday [Reuters]

Angry demonstrations have erupted in the southern Yemeni town of Taiz, as people rally against the killing of pro-democracy protesters there.

About 100,000 people marched in Taiz on Saturday, the Associated press reported. This follows the death of four demonstrators after security forces opened fired and shot tear gas at crowds the day before.

Demonstrators are blaming the local governor, chief of security and leader of the ruling party for the violence which left about 400 people injured in the earlier protests.

The fresh?protests?come as Yemen recalled its envoy from Qatar over a dispute?on a Gulf Arab plan for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

Saba, the official Yemeni news agency,?said?the ambassador?was recalled for consultation on the recent statement made by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem about the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC)?offer of mediation between Saleh and the opposition.

The GCC proposed that Saleh hand over power to his deputy in return for immunity from prosecution for him and his family.

Saleh rejected the?offer in a speech before tens of thousands of cheering supporters in the capital Sanaa on Friday.

Rallying cry

More than two dozen Yemenis were wounded by gunfire during Friday's opposition protests in Taiz [Reuters]

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators also gathered in Sanaa and across Yemen on Friday to call for Saleh's immediate ouster.

The death?of the demonstrators in Taiz?caused a rallying cry across the country, and saw protests continue for a second straight day.

In Taiz, activist Ghazi al-Samei said protesters were in the yard in front of the governor's office and had been there since Friday. The demonstrators, joined by several members of parliament, are demanding the governor's removal and trial.

Abdel-Malek al-Youssefi, another activist, said tanks were at the city's outskirts to prevent people from other towns taking part in the rally and that many supporters of the ruling Congress Party changed their allegiances and joined the ranks of the opposition, the AP said.

Saturday also saw?thousands of anti-government protesters take to the strests of other major cities, including?Sanaa, Aden, Ibb, al-Hudaydah and Hadramawt, in support of the Taiz protesters.

"It has just been absolute chaos in the last few few hours here in the capital," said Al Jazeera's special correspondent in Sanaa, who we are not naming for security reasons.

"There were hundreds of people who had left [Change] Square, pro-democracy protesters who were just marching in the street ... More people getting very angry. they are seeing what is happening in Taiz and in other cities as people go out on the streets and demonstrate and really step up the street protests. They are watching that and they are copying that, and they are trying to make their voices heard in the capital too."

Protesters have been calling since January for the departure of Saleh, who has been in power since 1978.

Calls for departure

Saleh initially accepted an offer by Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states trying to broker an end to bloody protests and hold talks with the opposition.

But he later rejected the plan for his exit in a speech broadcast on state television on Friday.

"We were born free, and we have free will, and they have to respect our wishes. We reject any coup against democracy, the constitution and our freedom," he told supporters in Sanaa on Friday.

?

Saleh said: "Our power comes from the power of our great people, not from Qatar, not from anyone else. This is blatant interference in Yemeni affairs."

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Sanaa said: "Saleh addressed his supporters to make a total rejection of the offer put forward by the Gulf Co-operation Council.

"He singled out Qatar and Al Jazeera and said, 'We don't have to follow their agenda'."

Al Jazeera's correspondent was stopped and searched near the ongoing protests in the capital on Saturday. She was briefly detained for ten minutes, and then allowed to leave.

"Lots of men holding guns and lots of other people just wearing civilian clothes came towards me," she said of the incident.

"They took my phone, they started shouting saying that?I was a spy, and that i was filming ... the soldiers told me that?I was not allow to film. They took things off me, they searched me, they held the gun to my stomach. It was a very threatening environment."

More than 120 people have been killed since Yemen's protests calling for an end to Saleh's rule began on February 11, inspired by popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies Email Article Print Article Share Article Send Feedback Topics in this articlePeopleAli Abdullah SalehHamad bin Jassim Al ThaniAbu Bakr al-KurbiCountryYemenQatarSaudi ArabiaEgyptTunisiaCitySanaaTaizAdenOrganisationGulf Co-operation Council Featured on Al Jazeera Goldstone's Gaza Richard Goldstone's second thoughts only matter to those who have consistently defended an indefensible war. To bomb and protect Instead of bombings, the US should have prevented a politically connected lobbying firm from ending Gaddafi's isolation. 'No safe levels' of radiation in Japan Experts warn that any detectable level of radiation is "too much". Obama's Libyan folly The NATO led intervention in Libya is hampered by a lack of foresight and clearly defined objectives, scholar argues.

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.dsq-toolbar-logo { display:none !important;} .dsq-item-trackback { display:none !important;} #dsq-num-posts { color: #FB9D04 !important;} #dsq-realtime-status { color: #FB9D04 !important;} .dsq-request-user-logout { color: #FB9D04 !important; font-weight: bold; } .dsq-comment-header-meta-wrapper { color: Navy !important;} .powered-by { display:none !important;} #dsq-content-stub { display:none !important; } Top News Accordion " style="background-color:<%=HeaderColor()%>;"> Top News Battles on for rebel-held Libya town Clashes erupt around Cairo's Tahrir Square Sadr calls for an end to 'US occupation' Nigeria hit by second blast as polls continue Gunman kills several in Dutch mall Middle East Middle East Clashes erupt around Cairo's Tahrir Square Syrian secuirty forces 'fire on funeral' Yemen recalls ambassador from Qatar Sadr calls for an end to 'US occupation' Bahraini activist 'assaulted and arrested' What's Hot What's Hot Viewed Emailed 7 Days Battles on for rebel-held Libya town Jesse Ventura: Clandestine US missions Clashes erupt around Cairo's Tahrir Square Fukushima: A 'nuclear sacrifice zone' Gunman kills several in Dutch mall Sadr calls for an end to 'US occupation' Taliban takes over abandoned US base Is China overtaking America? Obama's Libyan folly WikiLeaks: Great power rivalry at the UN 'No safe levels' of radiation in Japan It's a plutocracy, stupid Gambling with the planet Obama's Libyan folly I want my Al Jazeera Small wars, big consequences The delusions of Bashar al-Assad Meet Luna, the showjumping cow Goldstone: An act of negligence Fukushima: A 'nuclear sacrifice zone' What US conservatives never saw coming 'No safe levels' of radiation in Japan Brazil stares down the US on Libya Sources: Mubarak has left Egypt Obama's Libyan folly It's a plutocracy, stupid Gaddafi forces take Brega Libyan rebels 'receive foreign training' Gulf spill company hands out safety bonuses Children gunned down in Rio killing spree
Opinion WikiLeaks: Great power rivalry at the UNNikolas KozloffAmerica's Arab comebackDaoud KuttabMaking sense of the tragedy in Mazar-i SharifRobert CrewsIs China overtaking America?Joseph S NyeWinds of change reach SyriaEmad MekayThe roots of indecision: Obama and LibyaRussell A. BermanTensions escalate over Amazon mega damBenjamin DanglLibya: Making something out of nothingNajla AbdurrahmanGambling with the planetJoseph E StiglitzMany faces of the 'Arab Spring'Shlomo Ben AmiUS economy comeback, false advertisementDanny SchechterSmall wars, big consequencesTarak BarkawiObama striving for post-imperialismRobert GrenierTime is not Israel's partner in crimeMJ RosenbergI want my Al JazeeraNaomi WolfA cure for fiscal failure?Kenneth RogoffGoldstone: An act of negligenceNoura ErakatObama's Libyan follyRichard FalkContagious illusions of Gaddafi's powerSoumaya Ghannoushi Free our journalists

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