Demonstrators hold ground as Saleh agrees to quit
Source: Agencies |
April 25, 2011, Monday
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THOUSANDS of anti-government protesters held their ground yesterday in the Yemeni capital's Change Square despite the president's acceptance of an Arab proposal to leave office under certain conditions after 32 years in power.
More than two months of protests pressing for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to immediately step down have left him clinging to power and brought down intense international pressure for him to leave office. A regional bloc of Gulf nations has been seeking to broker an end to the crisis, fearing the potential impact of more instability in the fragile country, which is home to al-Qaida's most active branch.
Saleh agreed on Saturday to the proposal for him to hand power to his vice president within 30 days of a deal being signed in exchange for immunity from prosecution for him and his sons.
A coalition of seven opposition political parties also agreed to the proposal with several reservations, but Saleh's opponents come from a diverse range of groups and many who were not part of the talks quickly rejected the proposal and said they doubted Saleh's intentions.
Thousands of protesters held onto their camp in Sanaa, where they are ringed by military units that defected to join and protect them. Men in desert camouflage military uniforms mixed with the crowds, pumping their arms into the air and flashing victory signs.
"The proposals are not acceptable at all and the opposition parties don't represent us," said Khaled al-Ansi, a leader of the youth movement that is one of the main organizers of the street protests.
Al-Ansi said Saleh was "behind everything that is happening and he should be tried together with his sons" for the heavy crackdown on protesters.
More than 130 people have been killed by security forces and Saleh supporters. At least 40 were killed in an attack on March 18 by snipers overlooking Change Square.
Days later, a wave of defections picked up pace.
More than two months of protests pressing for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to immediately step down have left him clinging to power and brought down intense international pressure for him to leave office. A regional bloc of Gulf nations has been seeking to broker an end to the crisis, fearing the potential impact of more instability in the fragile country, which is home to al-Qaida's most active branch.
Saleh agreed on Saturday to the proposal for him to hand power to his vice president within 30 days of a deal being signed in exchange for immunity from prosecution for him and his sons.
A coalition of seven opposition political parties also agreed to the proposal with several reservations, but Saleh's opponents come from a diverse range of groups and many who were not part of the talks quickly rejected the proposal and said they doubted Saleh's intentions.
Thousands of protesters held onto their camp in Sanaa, where they are ringed by military units that defected to join and protect them. Men in desert camouflage military uniforms mixed with the crowds, pumping their arms into the air and flashing victory signs.
"The proposals are not acceptable at all and the opposition parties don't represent us," said Khaled al-Ansi, a leader of the youth movement that is one of the main organizers of the street protests.
Al-Ansi said Saleh was "behind everything that is happening and he should be tried together with his sons" for the heavy crackdown on protesters.
More than 130 people have been killed by security forces and Saleh supporters. At least 40 were killed in an attack on March 18 by snipers overlooking Change Square.
Days later, a wave of defections picked up pace.
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