"There will be no extension of [my] office, or succession, or reset the clock", announced today the president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, at an emergency meeting of the two houses of parliament. His decision, just 12 hours after his Egyptian counterpart make an announcement similar to the protests that threaten to evict you from power, seems a desperate attempt to stop a similar development in the impoverished country in the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula.
The opposition had called for tomorrow Saleh its Day of Wrath. The appointment is maintained. Although opponents have described as "positive" the presidential announcement, afraid to stay in mere patches for business as usual. "I offer these concessions in the interest of the country. The country's interests take precedence over our interests," said the Yemeni president to the deputies, members of the Shura Council and representatives of the military.
Then, the opposition has asked to suspend the protests, rallies and sit-ins that have been organized for tomorrow. "We believe that this is a positive initiative and we hope the following concrete steps," was the reaction of the Islamist party Islah through his deputy, Mohammed al-Saadi.
But as the rally tomorrow, "the plan is and will be organized and orderly," he assured Al Saadi was quoted as saying. After three decades in power, the mandate of Saleh, a key U.S. ally in the fight against al Qaeda, ending in 2013. However, for some time his party, General People Congress (GPC), sought to advance constitutional reforms that would allow his office for life.
There were also growing rumors that he intended to pass the wand to his eldest son, Ahmad, who currently serves as head of the Presidential Guard. The opposition tried to protest against the plans last December but failed to mobilize the Yemenis. However, last Friday, several thousand people gathered in Sana'a, the capital after Friday prayers.
Alongside slogans by the high cost of living, is first heard appeals to Saleh leaves office. Tunisia effect was undeniable. Local sources told El Pais claimed that the protests were much more numerous in the south of the country, independent until 1990 and where in recent years has rekindled secessionist sentiment.
Since then he has gone days without more or less nourished groups have protested despite successive announcements of Saleh to increase staff salaries, lower taxes, reduce college tuition fund or create jobs for young graduates . Just crumbs in a country where 40% of the population lives on less than two dollars a day.
Saleh also announced a further delay legislative elections, a demand of the opposition, but may be too late. The current parliament's mandate was extended for two years in February 2009 following an agreement between the GPC and the opposition for dialogue on political reform. Step was considered a presidential system to a parliamentary and government decentralization.
The committee established for that purpose only got to meet an opponents hand and felt betrayed when the authorities announced new elections for April 27, without awaiting the outcome of the political debate. "I'm afraid it's too late for dialogue. People do not ask for dialogue, but regime change and the exit of the president," Mohammed al-Sabri warned yesterday of the opposition alliance Joint Forum was quoted by Agence France Presse. 
The opposition had called for tomorrow Saleh its Day of Wrath. The appointment is maintained. Although opponents have described as "positive" the presidential announcement, afraid to stay in mere patches for business as usual. "I offer these concessions in the interest of the country. The country's interests take precedence over our interests," said the Yemeni president to the deputies, members of the Shura Council and representatives of the military.
Then, the opposition has asked to suspend the protests, rallies and sit-ins that have been organized for tomorrow. "We believe that this is a positive initiative and we hope the following concrete steps," was the reaction of the Islamist party Islah through his deputy, Mohammed al-Saadi.
But as the rally tomorrow, "the plan is and will be organized and orderly," he assured Al Saadi was quoted as saying. After three decades in power, the mandate of Saleh, a key U.S. ally in the fight against al Qaeda, ending in 2013. However, for some time his party, General People Congress (GPC), sought to advance constitutional reforms that would allow his office for life.
There were also growing rumors that he intended to pass the wand to his eldest son, Ahmad, who currently serves as head of the Presidential Guard. The opposition tried to protest against the plans last December but failed to mobilize the Yemenis. However, last Friday, several thousand people gathered in Sana'a, the capital after Friday prayers.
Alongside slogans by the high cost of living, is first heard appeals to Saleh leaves office. Tunisia effect was undeniable. Local sources told El Pais claimed that the protests were much more numerous in the south of the country, independent until 1990 and where in recent years has rekindled secessionist sentiment.
Since then he has gone days without more or less nourished groups have protested despite successive announcements of Saleh to increase staff salaries, lower taxes, reduce college tuition fund or create jobs for young graduates . Just crumbs in a country where 40% of the population lives on less than two dollars a day.
Saleh also announced a further delay legislative elections, a demand of the opposition, but may be too late. The current parliament's mandate was extended for two years in February 2009 following an agreement between the GPC and the opposition for dialogue on political reform. Step was considered a presidential system to a parliamentary and government decentralization.
The committee established for that purpose only got to meet an opponents hand and felt betrayed when the authorities announced new elections for April 27, without awaiting the outcome of the political debate. "I'm afraid it's too late for dialogue. People do not ask for dialogue, but regime change and the exit of the president," Mohammed al-Sabri warned yesterday of the opposition alliance Joint Forum was quoted by Agence France Presse.
- Another Mideast Domino Just Tumbled, As America's Friend In Yemen Announced Plans To Step Down (02/02/2011)
- Yemen opposition party says protests to go on - Reuters (02/02/2011)
- Yemen calls emergency meeting ahead of protests (02/02/2011)
- "Yemen is Not Tunisia, not Egypt" and related posts (02/02/2011)
- Yemen's president: I won't extend my term (02/02/2011)
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