Another One Down? Yemen's President Leaves the Country
Ali Abdullah Saleh, the president of Yemen, was injured during an attack on the presidential palace and has flown to Saudi Arabia, where he is undergoing surgery today to have shrapnel removed from his chest. VP Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has taken over his duties. The tribal leader Sadeq al-Ahmar appears to have been behind the attack on the palace.
The ruling party, Tareq al-Shami, says Saleh will be back in Yemen shortly, but thousands of Yemenis have gathered to celebrate his departure (complete with fireworks) and a return might be difficult. The medical excuse might provide him with a face-saving means of concluding his abysmal 33-year tenure.
The fat lady hasn't sung quite yet -- Saleh's eldest son, Ahmed, is the head of Yemen's Republican Guard, and his nephews run the security and intelligence units -- but his days do appear to be numbered.
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Jul '10
Re: Another One Down? Yemen's President Leaves the Country
"Yemeni Sprung"
Oct '10
Re: Another One Down? Yemen's President Leaves the Country
Judith, The tribal leader you mentioned, Sadeq al-Ahmar; is he known for any jihadist or Al Qaeda connections?
Re: Another One Down? Yemen's President Leaves the Country
It doesn't appear that he is, although I confess I'm just learning about him now myself. I will continue to look into this.
Edited on Jun 5, 2011 at 12:28pm