Friday, April 22, 2011

Mass demonstrations by supporters and opponents of the president of Yemen

Supporters and opponents of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh yesterday measured paths forces with demonstrations in the streets of Sana'a and Taiz. While the mobilization against the president was to say the most numerous observers since the beginning of the protests three months ago, Salé still feel supported enough to determine its own initiative to unlock the crisis the day before you offered the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The proposal provides that leave power within a month before the presidential election two months and guarantees of immunity for himself and his family. "We received favorably the initiative of ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council, with whom we will cooperate in a positive way within the framework of the Constitution," the president said to his followers gathered outside the presidential palace.

To political opponents, his efforts constitutional legitimacy lies only objections to the plan and his desire to stay in power. In fact, he intimated that he will not leave office. "Those who want to gain power, to submit to the verdict of the polls," he repeated again. The aspect of its response was not surprising in Western diplomatic circles.

"We have entered a phase of bargaining and negotiation will be a long process," confided an ambassador from Sanaa. The same source was reporting a "strong pressure on the opposition" to accept the plan of the GCC. Its rejection would give an excuse to Salé. Although the traditional parties may be willing to reach an agreement, is less clear that civic groups are encouraged by the protests will be accepted.

The distrust of them raises the president, joins the unexpected force that has become popular movement, which yesterday brought together hundreds of thousands of people in both Sana'a and in Taiz, the third largest city. According to a journalist from Agence France Presse, the manifestation of the capital spread over four kilometers.

"None of initiatives, just go," chanted the participants in reference to Salé. In the banners, their message was addressed to the GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman): "No negotiations, no dialogue." On Monday, the secretary general of the organization, Abdul Latif al Zayani, traveled to Sana'a, to try to persuade Saleh to give up the power by giving assurances that it will not be processed.

The proposal led by the inhabitants of Yemen, supported by the U.S. and the EU, states that the President has delegated its executive powers to the vice president within 30 days, during which the Parliament adopted a law on immunity. The waiver would reach the president, his family and his closest associates, as requested by the official delegation on Tuesday evening met with the foreign ministers of the GCC.

The vice president then forms a national unity government, with 50% of the ministers of the ruling party, 40% opposition and 10% of independents. The new prime minister calls elections, which the Constitution must be held within 60 days. In return, the protests should stop. Since late January, Salé faces the greatest political challenge of his 32 years as president, former North Yemen since 1990 the unified Yemen.

The popular movement, which every day has more support, organized almost daily demonstrations demanding his immediate resignation. The suppression of these protests has left 130 dead and exacerbated the discomfort of the Yemenis, one of the poorest nations in the Arab world. The pulse is intensified today with the announcement of a general strike that could paralyze the country and severely affected by the lack of gas bottles, inflation and the fall of the material.

"It is politically finished," he told this newspaper the former president of South Yemen Ali Nasser Mohamed in Dubai, where he has maintained contacts with other opponents on the future of their country. Most of them agree that what is delaying his departure is seeking guarantees of immunity from any future trial.

"He's worried about money," they say. Opposition sources estimate his wealth at 50,000 million dollars (about 34,000 million euros. In addition, 20 soldiers were killed in two separate attacks in eastern Yemen, security officials said quoted by Agence France Presse. In one case, soldiers clashed with activists of Al Qaeda.

In the other, against members of a tribe.

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