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Arabia

Eyeing return, Yemen's ousted Saleh aids Houthis

2014-10-23

[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Ousted Yemeni President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... is actively helping the Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to Americaâ¢, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ... rebels take over the country as part of his plan to return to power, media reports revealed on Wednesday. Citing a "trusted source close" Saleh, a report said a "secret meeting was held several days ago between former President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Houthis." The meeting was reportedly attended by the head of the political relations of the Houthi movement Hussein al-Ezzi, who is in charge of signing deals with other parties, and Arif al-Zouka, a member of Saleh's General People's Congress party (GPC). During the meeting, GPC Secretary-General Sultan al-Barakani was contacted while he was in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi-based online news website al-Weam said in the exclusive report. The Houthis reportedly asked Saleh to assign some of his aides well-known to Riyadh "to try to deceive the Saudi leadership into believing that developments in Yemen were under control and that the Houthis can be removed from power if the kingdom entrusts him [Saleh] with this role." The objective of this plot, according to the report, is to "shake confidence among Houthi opponents ‐who might be backed by Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... ‐ in order to create a situation that is mutually beneficial for both Saleh and the Houthis." Action plan Five action groups were reportedly formed during the meeting. The first was tasked with providing misinformation and rumors to "figures implanted within the circle of trust to the kingdom." These figures "would not necessarily be conspiring," the report says. They would simply be feeding the Saudi leadership with falsities to "create a state of doubt and confusion." The second group was tasked with "delivering reports and information directly to Saudi decision makers to make them doubt anyone who would cooperate with them against the Houthis." The third group is charged with sending groups to take part in anti-Houthi protests while raising al-Qaeda's black flags. The youths would raise the flags in front of the media to create a popular impression that all the protesters are either supporters or members of the terrorist group. "This will create a positive picture about the Houthis, portraying them as fighting against al-Qaeda and justify their killing of Sunni tribal leaders who are standing against the rebels' advance in many parts of the country," the report said. The fourth group is tasked with engaging in diplomatic talks with Saudi Arabia and other concerned countries to "reassure" them and "win time" as rebels continue to advance in Yemen. Ali Nasir Qarsha, a tribal leader in the province of Saada, and Houthi leaders Yusef al-Fishi, Daifallah Salman and Hassan al-Saadi were named as belonging to this group in the report. The fifth group was set up to engage in "fake resistance" against the Houthi rebels in order to cause "financial bleeding" to their sponsors. This group reportedly includes Maj. Gen. Fadl al-Qousi, the Interior Ministry's under-secretary.

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Arabia

Yemen Shuts ex-President's Daily, Channel

2014-06-12

[AnNahar] Yemen shut down a newspaper and television channel owned by former president President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... Wednesday without giving any reason, a member of Saleh's said. Both media outlets are often singled out for their coverage, seen as biased against the government formed after Saleh bowed to street pressures and resigned in 2012. "Yemen Today television channel and newspaper were shut down today" after the government approved a "decision by president Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi," Sultan al-Barakani, the head of the General People's Congress parliamentary bloc, told Agence La Belle France Presse. "Forces belonging to the presidential guard shuttered the headquarters of the television and newspaper and seized their equipment," he said, adding that no explanation was given for what he called a "dangerous precedent." The closure came as the interior ministry urged people to "avoid responding to suspicious calls inciting violence," as thousands erupted into the streets of Sanaa to protest power cuts and water and fuel shortages. Although weakened, Saleh still heads the influential GPC and retains the loyalty of some elements in the military. Critics accuse him of impeding the country's political transition. In February 2013, the United Nations ...an idea whose time has gone... reiterated a threat of sanctions against anyone who interferes in the delicate transition process, naming Saleh explicitly.

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Arabia

Ex-Yemeni President in Saudi for Treatment

2013-04-03

[An Nahar] Former Yemeni president President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... , who has been accused of meddling in his country's fragile political transition, was in Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in their national face... on Tuesday for treatment, a Yemeni diplomat said. Saleh arrived for medical tests and treatment in the Saudi capital on Monday, his party, General People's Congress (GPC), said. He spent time recovering in a Riyadh hospital in June 2011 after an attack on his compound left him seriously maimed. A Yemeni diplomat confirmed to Agence La Belle France Presse that Saleh was in Riyadh and sources in the GPC said that Saudi Arabia chartered a plane to take him to the kingdom. Saleh was admitted to hospital, the head of the GPC parliamentary bloc, Sultan al-Barakani, told AFP. He did not elaborate on the nature of the treatment.

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Arabia

Saleh to leave for US

2012-10-15

[Yemen Post] A big shot of the General People Congress Sultan al-Barakani has revealed that the former president President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... will leave for the United States after Eid al-Adha, a religious Moslem holiday. Al-Barakani who is among the most loyal politician to Saleh affirmed that Saleh will undergo two surgeries in the United States and back to Yemen, denying that Saleh will stay in any state for preeminent residency. In remarks to the Kuwaiti al-Syasya newspaper, Al-Barakani strongly slammed those who ask to revoke Saleh's immunity, affirming that it is impossible to cancel it. Yemeni senior politicians including Secretary General of the Yemeni Socialist Party Yaseen Saeed Noaman and Secretary General of the Nasserist Unionist People's Organization Sultan al-Atwani demanded Saleh, during the few past days, to leave Yemen. Saleh is frequently charged with intervention in tasks of the interim government and seeking to disrupt its performances. Meanwhile, ...back at the wreckage, Captain Poindexter awoke groggily, his hand still stuck in the Ming vase... the German Embassy in Yemen has denied reports that Germany accepted the hosting Saleh, the Akhbar Alyoum newspaper reported on Wednesday quoting a front man for the German Embassy in Sana'a. "The position of Germany on this issue is firm...Germany has not decided to give Saleh a visa or to host him," the front man added. Yemeni media sources said that President Abdrabu Mansour Hadi discussed the issue of Saleh's departure during his first overseas trip to Europe, the US and Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in their national face...

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Arabia

Saleh Says Leaving for U.S., Asks People for Forgiveness

2012-01-23

[An Nahar] Yemen's longtime President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... said he will head to the United States for medical treatment as he asked his people for forgiveness, in a farewell speech released as he left Sanaa on Sunday. "I will go to the United States for treatment and will then return as head of the General People's Congress (GPC) party," the official Saba news agency quoted Saleh as saying. "I ask for forgiveness from all my country's people, men and women, for any shortcomings during my 33-year-long rule," he added. An official close to the presidency told Agence La Belle France Presse that "the Yemeni president left Sanaa one hour ago," without specifying Saleh's destination. His departure came a day after parliament adopted a law giving Saleh "complete" immunity from prosecution in return for stepping down under a Gulf-brokered transition deal. The law has drawn wide condemnation from young protesters, hundreds of whom have been killed by Saleh's security forces and loyalists since an uprising against his rule broke out in January 2011, as well as from rights groups. But Saleh's farewell speech defended the law, saying that those who have benefited from it are "all those who have worked with the president during a 33-year-long rule." "If there had been mistakes, then they were unintentional as the president has immunity from his own people to whom he had dedicated his life to serve for this nation," Saleh said as he called for "reconciliation" in the country. "The poor youths (who have continued) sit-ins for 11 months, go back to your homes and families and open up a new page with the new leadership. I feel sorry for you," Saleh said. Parliament also adopted a law approving Saleh's longtime deputy, Vice President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi, as the consensus candidate in the election for Saleh's successor, due to be held on February 21. After that date, Hadi is to be "handed over the presidential palace while Ali Abdullah Saleh will take his bag, bid farewell, and leave to his own home," Saba quoted the veteran president as saying. "I announce from here, out of respect and appreciation for Hadi's stances and efforts, his promotion to the rank of marshal," Saleh said. A bigwig of Saleh's GPC party, Sultan al-Barakani, said last week that the 69-year-old president, who remains in office on an honorary basis, would travel abroad. "In the coming days, he will visit the sultanate of Oman and then Ethiopia before traveling to New York for treatment" for wounds he sustained in a bombing at the presidential palace last June, the official told AFP. "Once he has completed his treatment in New York, he will return to Yemen to continue leading the party." Diplomats in Sanaa said on Sunday that Saleh's eldest son Ahmed -- who commands the feared Republican Guard -- was "already in Oman" to prepare for his father's visit. Earlier on Sunday, tens of thousands of Yemenis demanded Saleh's execution in protests against a law giving him full immunity from prosecution over a deadly crackdown on dissent. "It is our duty ... to execute the butcher," chanted angry protesters gathered in Sanaa's Change Square, the epicenter of the democracy movement that has been calling for Saleh's ouster since January last year. The law also offers partial protection from legal action for Saleh's aides, saying his lieutenants cannot be charged for "actions that were politically motivated and carried out in the exercise of their duties." The protesters carried banners calling on politicians to reverse their decision. "To the politicians, we say there will be no immunity at the expense of the blood of our deaders," said one banner, referring to the hundreds of people killed in the government crackdown. The demonstrators tried to march to the U.S. embassy in Sanaa but were stopped by Yemeni security forces. The final text of the immunity law specified the amnesty "does not apply to acts of terrorism," though no further details were revealed as to what actions may fall within that category. The transitional government of national unity, which is led by the parliamentary opposition, had submitted 11th-hour amendments on Friday reducing the scope of the amnesty offered to the president's aides following a public outcry. "We had 10,000 victims in northern Yemen over the past six wars. We cannot give up seeking justice," Abdul Karim Jadban, an MP from Saada, the Zaidi Shiites' stronghold in the country's north, told AFP. An on-off revolt in northern Yemen since 2004 between Shiites and the Sanaa regime has cost several thousand lives and displaced more than 250,000 people. A ceasefire was declared in February 2010. The U.N. envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, has criticized the immunity law arguing it neglects the rights of "victims". Speaking to news hounds before departing Yemen late Saturday, Benomar said that though "the law was amended ... it does not live up to our expectations. The U.N. in principle stands against this type of blanket immunity." Benomar called on parliament to enact a "transitional justice and reconciliation" law that would allow victims to be heard and make claims for compensation.

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Arabia

Yemeni outgoing President to head to US

2012-01-22

[Yemen Post] Yemeni outgoing President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... will go on a trip targeting some countries including the United States of America, La Belle France Press (FP) reported on Saturday. FP has quoted Sultan al-Barakani, a leading figures in Saleh's General People Congress party (GPC), as saying:" Saleh will pay a visit to Ethiopia, Oman, and US respectively," Al-Barakni said Saleh will be to US for further medical treatment for his wounds sustained in an liquidation attempt at the Presidential Palace early in January. He did not put a timeframe for Saleh's trip. However, nothing needs reforming like other people's bad habits... he took pains to emphasize the President will come back home after the tour. Veteran Saleh has announced his intentions to go for US in December, but he said he would go there to give way for the new government to prepare the upcoming Presidential elections due to take place on February 21. Separately, Yemeni Parliament passed on Saturday the controversial immunity law draft that protects Saleh and his aides from any legal prosecution. Yemen Parliament has for long been merely a tool at Saleh's disposal as his party (GPC) has overwhelming majority.

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Arabia

Yemen Scraps Amnesty for Saleh's Aides

2012-01-21

[An Nahar] The Yemeni government has tweaked a contested bill that would have granted legal immunity to aides of President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... implicated in criminal affairs, a government source said on Friday. The new version "grants complete immunity to president Saleh" but his assistants will only benefit from "political immunity" and could eventually be held accountable for criminal or terrorist acts, the same source told Agence La Belle France Presse. The amended bill, adopted by the government on Thursday during an extraordinary meeting, also provides for the ratification of "laws on national reconciliation and transitional justice." The government is to submit the bill to parliament on Saturday. The original version, submitted on January 8, would have granted amnesty against prosecution to Saleh and the aides "who worked with him in all government, civil and military departments during the years of his rule." In November, Saleh signed a Gulf-brokered deal to end the political crisis in the impoverished country, under which he handed authority to Vice President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi and the opposition formed a national unity government. Saleh serves now as an honorary president until polls are held in February to elect Mansur, the sole candidate, as his interim successor for two years. A bloody crackdown on anti-Saleh demonstrations since January 2011 has claimed hundreds of lives. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said earlier this month that anyone who had committed abuses during the mass protests in Yemen must not be allowed to evade justice. The U.N. commissioner urged decision-makers in Yemen to respect the prohibition in international law against amnesties for gross human rights ...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty... violations. A bigwig in Saleh's General People's Congress (GPC) party, Sultan al-Barakani, said on Wednesday that February's vote would be held on time, amid rumors of a possible delay. Meanwhile, ...back at the cheese factory, all the pieces finally fell together in Fluffy's mind... parliament was scheduled to vote on the amended bill, and on Mansour's presidential candidacy, on Monday, he added. Separately, Saleh could travel abroad for medical treatment in the near future for injuries suffered in a kaboom in Sanaa last June, another party source told AFP on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity ... for fear of being murdered... "The GPC's political bureau has accepted, at Saleh's request, that he should travel abroad for treatment," the source said, without specifying the destination or date of his departure Late last month, the veteran leader announced his intention to visit the United States "in order to create favorable conditions ... for the presidential election." But a bigwig declared shortly afterwards that the trip was cancelled following requests from his ruling party that he remain in Yemen until after the elections.

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Arabia

Saleh might come to US for 'medical treatment'

2011-12-29

Either let Saleh remain in Yemen so that he can participate in his own eventual execution or let him flee to the US as an honored, previously supported deposed thug. As usual, Bambi can't make up his mind... A senior Yemeni official said Tuesday that the Obama administration has assured the government that President Ali Abdullah Saleh will be allowed to enter the United States to receive medical treatment, a decision that could prove politically dicey if it actually occurs. The State Department strongly denied that a decision had been reached, saying that it is still reviewing Saleh's visa application. The department stressed that it would not allow Saleh entrance for any other reason than legitimate medical concerns. But a top adviser to Saleh expressed surprise Tuesday at the denials, saying the Yemeni government was told by the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa that the visa had been approved. "We were informed yesterday from the American Embassy about the arrival of the visa," said Sultan al-Barakani, a senior ruling party official. "They called us again today and confirmed the visa. And they requested to know the date of the travel and the route." When asked whether the visa was contingent on Saleh receiving medical treatment, Barakani said it was "unconditional." "U.S. officials are continuing to consider President Saleh's request to enter the country for the sole purpose of seeking medical treatment, but initial reports that permission has already been granted are not true," deputy press secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday. Asked about Saleh's request to travel to the United States, a U.S. Embassy spokesman in Sanaa said Tuesday, "It's something under consideration." Yemen's deputy information minister, Abdu al-Janadi, also said there were no dates, itinerary or a visa issued for a trip. But he said Yemeni officials were under the impression that the United States had approved Saleh's visit for medical treatment. Janadi said heading to the United States or Europe for medical treatment was one of Saleh's conditions for stepping down as part of an agreement with the U.N. Security Council. "The president has decided to go to the United States for a medical checkup and to stay away from Yemen so that the coalition government could go ahead and do whatever it has to do, and so that no one places the blame on the president if things don't go correctly regarding the elections," Janadi said.

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Arabia

U.N. Yemen Envoy Says Parties Agree to Transition Plan

2011-11-23

[An Nahar] The U.N.'s Yemen envoy said on Tuesday a Gulf sponsored power-transfer deal aimed at ending months of political deadlock has been approved both by the opposition and by President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... "All the parties have agreed to implement the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative," Jamal Benomar told news hounds in the capital Sanaa. "We are now discussing the practical arrangements related to the actual signing ceremony," Benomar said, adding that there would be a news conference later on Tuesday when further details would be released. The deputy leader of the ruling General People's Congress, Sultan al-Barakani, told Agence La Belle France Presse that discussions were still ongoing about the arrangements. "The president wants a minister from a Gulf country to attend the signing ceremony in addition to (GCC Secretary General) Abdul Latif al-Zayani," Barakani said without specifying which country. Final touches are being made to the implementation mechanism and the document of guarantees to the president and his entourage mentioned in the Gulf initiative which offers Saleh and his relatives immunity from prosecution if he hands over power to his deputy. Barakani said that the signing is expected to take place "on Thursday or Friday." Benomar, who arrived in Sanaa on November 10, has been working tirelessly to secure an agreement on the Gulf transition plan that calls for Saleh to transfer power over to his deputy, Vice President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi, in return for immunity from prosecution. Saleh's continued refusal to sign the initiative has triggered months of political deadlock that has left the government in a state of chaos and the economy in shambles. The political crisis has also exacerbated tensions on the street where tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have faced a brutal 10-month government crackdown that has left hundreds dead and thousands maimed. Benomar did not say when or where the signing ceremony would take place. But a member of his delegation told AFP later on Tuesday that "talks are still ongoing and there will be no signing ceremony this evening." On Monday, a senior opposition leader told AFP that Saleh had agreed to sign the power transfer deal and its U.N.-sponsored mechanism for implementation. "The negotiations that have been under way for the past three days have led to an agreement by which the Gulf initiative and mechanisms for implementing it will be signed on Tuesday," Mohammed Bassandawa, who heads the National Council of revolutionary forces, has said. The plan submitted by the six-nation GCC will effectively bring an end to Saleh's 33-year rule. A GCC official told AFP on Monday in Riyadh that Zayani could travel to Sanaa if Yemen's political rivals were ready to seal the deal. "The secretary general will go to Sanaa in the next two days if the Yemeni parties are ready to sign the Gulf initiative," the official said on condition of anonymity. The plan also proposes the formation in Sanaa of a government of national unity and an end to the deadly protests rocking the impoverished Arabian Peninsula nation since late January. Saleh is required to submit his resignation to parliament within 30 days of the signing, to be followed two months later by a presidential election. A Yemeni opposition official said on Monday that a second ceremony would be held in the Saudi capital where the GCC is headquartered. The political turmoil in Yemen has seen powerful tribes and army dissidents join opposition parliamentarians and tens of thousands of protesters in their struggle to oust Saleh.

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Arabia

Yemen: Drop your guns

2005-03-22

The ruling Party (GPC) caucus in the parliament voted with majority Saturday in favor of debating the firearms possession control draft law that has been crippled by the tribal figures for more than six years. The draft bill which the Speaker of the Parliament Sheikh Abdullah bin Hussien al-Ahmar has been rejecting was transferred to the Security and Defense committee to discuss and then forward the law for debate and voting. Ammended of this law allows police to confiscate any unlicensed firearms which are commonly carried and spread all over the country. The last government failed to convince the Parliament in a six-year tenure to endorse the law to regulate arms possession. The bill necessitates the control of arms possession and if endorsed by the parliament, every Yemeni citizen possessing any sort of guns has to get it registered at the Ministry of Interior,else to just leave it at home. Al-Ahmar led a group of MPs from both the Islah party and the GPC rejecting the articles concerning the arms possession control while agreeing that arms carrying should be controlled. Other religious clerics like Shekh Abdulmajeed al-Zindani used to tell the people that they should be armed so that the government or political regimes cannot force non-Islamic laws into their lives. They have claimed that "armed people can defend their religion better than those without arms." Such preachers have encouraged flooding the country with weapons of different colors and hues. Member of Parliament Sultan al-Barakani, head of GPC caucus in the parliament, said that putting the draft bill on the present agenda of the parliament is a good step towards debating and endorsing the bid. "This draft law provides the police with power to seize and confiscate the unlicensed firearms," al-Barakani said. He earlier said that there are some figures who rejected the draft law. The question of arms possession in Yemen has become a major headache for the government, which believes that there must be a law to regulate and control this issue, as arms have been a main source of violence and terrorism. The government feels it's part of its campaign against terror, as the country has been embroiled into the tumult of tribal revenge and other sorts of disputes, something, which boosted the zest for obtaining weapons for personal protection. It also feels that free-rein on guns is curbing its efforts to achieve security and stability, as well as development. Arms possession is no longer a sign of manhood and a part of the Yemeni culture as tribesmen used to think, but it has rather become a means to kidnapping, theft, and all sorts of crimes.

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