Saleh claims he's willing to resign
Source: Agencies |
October 10, 2011, Monday
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PRESIDENT Ali Abdullah Saleh has made vague comments that he is willing to leave power, in his first major speech since returning to Yemen, but he gave no concrete plan for the future of the country.
It was not the first time Saleh has expressed a willingness to step down amid eight months of mass protests demanding that he go. Still, he has repeatedly refused to resign immediately and rejected a US-backed deal for him to hand over his authority.
Saleh was seriously wounded in an explosion at his presidential palace in June, after which he went Saudi Arabia for treatment.
During his absence, mediators and opposition groups sought to convince him to stay away and transfer power to his deputy - to launch the regional power transfer deal. Saleh declined and returned abruptly to Yemen late last month.
A crackdown against Saleh's opponents followed, with street battles in the capital Sanaa between troops loyal to Saleh's son, Ahmed, and dissident military units and pro-opposition tribesmen.
Saleh's new declaration on Saturday on state TV gave little clue to his intentions.
He spoke to lawmakers, his hands encased in medical gloves for the treatment of burns from the June bombing. He didn't shake hands with any guests, who instead, shook the hands of his deputy.
"I never wanted power. I will reject power in the coming days. I will give it up," he said. "But there are men who will take power. There are men who are true to their pledges, whether military or civilians, who will take power. They can never destroy the country."
He did not give any firm commitment to resign. Saleh said he would meet with parliament in the coming days to "transparently discuss" the situation in Yemen.
Saleh railed against opposition forces, which he accused of being behind the chaos in the country. He also said they failed to cooperate with his deputy. He said the opposition are holders of a "dark and destructive project."
He ridiculed opposition claims that he plans to transfer power to a member of his family. "How many are the president's sons? How big is the president's family? How many brothers or grandchildren? How many of those are in power?" Saleh said.
His son Ahmed has been seen as Saleh's heir apparent.
The president said he returned from Saudi Arabia with "an olive branch and a dove of peace" but said his opponents failed to seize it or understand it.
Opposition members were skeptical of Saleh's comments. Mohammed al-Sabri, an opposition spokesman, said the president's words were intended to generate headlines ahead of a UN Security Council meeting tomorrow.
"He has often promised things and never lived up to them," al-Sabri said.
It was not the first time Saleh has expressed a willingness to step down amid eight months of mass protests demanding that he go. Still, he has repeatedly refused to resign immediately and rejected a US-backed deal for him to hand over his authority.
Saleh was seriously wounded in an explosion at his presidential palace in June, after which he went Saudi Arabia for treatment.
During his absence, mediators and opposition groups sought to convince him to stay away and transfer power to his deputy - to launch the regional power transfer deal. Saleh declined and returned abruptly to Yemen late last month.
A crackdown against Saleh's opponents followed, with street battles in the capital Sanaa between troops loyal to Saleh's son, Ahmed, and dissident military units and pro-opposition tribesmen.
Saleh's new declaration on Saturday on state TV gave little clue to his intentions.
He spoke to lawmakers, his hands encased in medical gloves for the treatment of burns from the June bombing. He didn't shake hands with any guests, who instead, shook the hands of his deputy.
"I never wanted power. I will reject power in the coming days. I will give it up," he said. "But there are men who will take power. There are men who are true to their pledges, whether military or civilians, who will take power. They can never destroy the country."
He did not give any firm commitment to resign. Saleh said he would meet with parliament in the coming days to "transparently discuss" the situation in Yemen.
Saleh railed against opposition forces, which he accused of being behind the chaos in the country. He also said they failed to cooperate with his deputy. He said the opposition are holders of a "dark and destructive project."
He ridiculed opposition claims that he plans to transfer power to a member of his family. "How many are the president's sons? How big is the president's family? How many brothers or grandchildren? How many of those are in power?" Saleh said.
His son Ahmed has been seen as Saleh's heir apparent.
The president said he returned from Saudi Arabia with "an olive branch and a dove of peace" but said his opponents failed to seize it or understand it.
Opposition members were skeptical of Saleh's comments. Mohammed al-Sabri, an opposition spokesman, said the president's words were intended to generate headlines ahead of a UN Security Council meeting tomorrow.
"He has often promised things and never lived up to them," al-Sabri said.
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