US calls for 'immediate transition pf power' in Yemen

Amid reports of Ali Abdullah Saleh's possible return to Yemen, the US has called for an "immediate transition" of power. Speculation is rife that the Yemeni president's stay in Saudi Arabia, where he had surgery for shrapnel wounds suffered in an attack on his palace on Friday, might be prolonged as the kingdom tries to broker a power-transition deal.

"We think an immediate transition is in the best interests of the Yemeni people," Hillary Clinton, secretary of state, said on Monday.For her part, Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, said she hoped Saleh will let his country "move on" while he seeks medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

More than 450 people have been killed in the unrest shaking the nation of 23 million since late January.

The US fears that al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen could exploit the turmoil to strengthen its presence in the country, which it has already used as a base for plotting two attempted anti-US attacks.

Earlier on Monday, Abu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Yemen's acting leader, was quoted as saying on the Saba state news agency that Saleh's health was improving and he "would return to the homeland in the coming days". A Saudi-brokered truce was holding in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, after two weeks of fighting between Saleh's forces and a powerful tribal group in which more than 200 people were killed and thousands fled.

The Saudi-led Gulf Co-operation Council urged all parties to work to end violence and said it was continuing its efforts to negotiate a power-transfer deal. But the ceasefire in Sanaa was at risk of unravelling on Monday as government supporters opened fire on opposition fighters in renewed clashes that killed at least six.

Youthful protesters, interpreting Saleh's absence as potentially permanent, continued to celebrate in Sanaa where they have staged anti-government demonstrations since January. "It's impossible for us to let [Saleh] come back. And those of his people who are still here had better follow him to Saudi," one of those attending a Sanaa rally.

"Who is next?" asked one banner held up by protesters in a sea of red, white and black Yemeni flags, referring to the wave of uprisings in Arab world and north Africa that has toppled the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia and inspired revolts in Syria, Libya and Bahrain. Saleh's departure could make it hard for him to retain control, although his close relatives still command key military units and security forces.

Saleh, a political survivor, has defied global calls to step down and survived the defection of top generals, ministers and ambassadors.

UN mulls over crackdown in Yemen - Yemen Uprise Latest

Security Council discusses about Yemen amid growing international concern at continuing violence used against protesters.


Security forces in Yemen have killed at least four people and wounded hundreds more after opening fire on demonstrations in the capital Sanaa and the town of Taiz, as the UN met to discuss the crisis for the first time.


In Sanaa, four people were reportedly killed and nearly 100 wounded on Tuesday when riot police stopped protesters marching towards the capital's main Zubeiri street.


Protesters threw stones at riot police and set fire to a security vehicle, witnesses said.


An Al Jazeera producer reported that four female doctors who had been helping to treat injured protesters were taken away by security forces.


Tariq Numan, a doctor working at a field hospital outside Sanaa university, told Al Jazeera that "hundreds of injured people" were being treated at his facility following the violence.


He said that many had "severe injuries" that appeared to have been caused by gunfire.


"We are still receiving now from the streets tens more injured people," he said, adding that the facility was being overwhelmed by the number of casualties.


"The number is more than our abilities to cope [with]," he said.


In Taiz, south of the capital, at least one person was shot dead and another wounded after police opened fire when protesters burned tyres in the street.


Organisers of the Taiz protest said four people, including a newspaper photographer, had been arrested.


Pro-democracy protesters have been demanding for two months the resignation of Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president since 1978.


source - Al Jazeera

International pressure mounts on Yemen leader Ali Abdullah to Step Down !

US calls for a negotiated transition of power "as quickly as possible" after more bloodshed in anti-government protests.


International pressure is mounting on Yemen's president Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down, after the deaths of at least 19 people in anti-government protests in the last two days.


Strong statements from the United States, United Nations and European Union countries came as Saleh backers clashed with protesters in the capital, Sanaa, and security forces opened fire during protests in the southern city of Taiz on Tuesday.


The official SANA news agency said four people were killed in Sanaa and dozens injured.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, told Saleh in a telephone call that he sent a small team to determine how the world body could best help quell tensions.


The UN chief's office said Ban "expressed strong concerns for the dead and the injured, and urged utmost restraint from both government and opposition's forces". Meanwhile, the Pentagon said the US was calling for a negotiated transition in Yemen "as quickly as possible".


"Obviously the situation right now is a difficult one. The longer it festers, the more difficult it becomes," Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon Press Secretary said. More than 120 people have been killed and 5,000 injured since Yemen's protests started on February 11, inspired by the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

Three Top army generals defect in Yemen - Yemen Uprise

Brigadier Ali Mohsen Saleh, the head of the north western military zone and the head of the first armoured division, said on Monday that he had deployed army units to protect the protesters.


Two more generals rallied behind Brigadier Saleh soon after.Addressing a news conference, Brigadier Saleh said: "Yemen today, is suffering from a comprehensive and dangerous crisis and it is widespread.


"Lack of dialogue and oppression of peaceful protesters in the pubclic sphere, resulted in crisis which has increased each day."And it is because of what I feel about the emotions of officers and leaders in the armed forces, who are an integral part of the people, and protectors of the people, I declare, on their behalf, our peaceful support of the youth revolution and their demands and that we will fulfil our duties."


The announcement came days after scores died when armed men fired at an anti-government protest in the capital Sanaa.Several ministers resigned from the government after Friday''s violence. Abdullah Alsaidi, Yemen''s ambassador to the United Nations, also quit in protest over the killings.



Hakim Al Masmari, editor-in-chief of Yemen Post, told Al Jazeera that Monday's army defections spell the end for President Saleh. 


"It is officially over, now that 60 per cent of the army is allied with the protesters.

"For Ali Mohsin Saleh to annnouce this, it is a clear sign to President Saleh that the game is over and that he must step down now.


"It means the fall of the Yemeni army, by nightfall, we expect 90 per cent of the army to join Mohsin Saleh.


"According to our sources, the president knew that this will happen and he expects Brigadier Saleh to let him leave without further degradation and humiliation," he said.


Popular uprising


On Sunday, President Saleh fired his entire cabinet, which came after a month-long popular uprising calling for political reform and his resignation.


The president asked the cabinet to serve as caretaker government until he forms a new one.


Adding even more pressure on Saleh, the country''s most powerful tribal confederation on Sunday called on him to step down.


Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, the leader of Hashed, which includes Saleh''s tribe, issued a statement asking the president to respond to the people''s demands and leave peacefully. It was co-signed by several religious leaders.


Jamila Ali Raja, former Yemeni foreign ministry spokesperson told Al Jazeera, "They are preparing a scene for military protection, at the same time a transitional government will be put in place, so a similar scenario to Egypt."


"Ali Mohsin Saleh will not be accepted by the youth, it is not the start of a military government in Yemen, so a national emergency government will be a civil government," added Masmari.


"He is also very corrupt, he is not respected here in Yemen, however, it will open the doors for the fall of the current regime."


Speaking to Al Jazeera, Gabool al Mutawakil, a youth activist, said: "We are now in the middle of two militaries - one that has joined the protesters and one that is under the authority of President Saleh.


"There is fear of civil war, but we are insisting on having a peaceful revolution."