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Hadi office: Saleh to leave Yemen soon
[Yemen Post] After he attended the official power handover ceremony, 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... will leave Yemen soon, according to media outlets, citing official sources the Presidential Palace. Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi's, the new Yemeni President, office has confirmed that Saleh is going to leave Yemen soon, however they refused to reveal his destination, CNN reported. Saleh is still studying his options and has yet to make up his mind as to which country he would choose for exile, the unidentified source at the Presidential Palace said. One of his top aids refused to comment on the matter in a phone call with Yemen Post, asking us to go and ask the new President's office for information. On Tuesday, Saleh's top aids and cronies in the General People Congress emphatically dismissed media reports that Slaeh would live in exile as baseless, emphasizing that he would stay in Yemen and assume the leadership of the former ruling party GPC. Saleh is reportedly under mounting pressures from the GCC states, USA and EU to leave Yemen and live in exile for the rest of his life.They threatened that if he refused to leave Yemen they would freeze his and his family's assets. He is widely perceived as a major source of tension, discontent, and unrest. Furthermore, they fear that he would try to influence the scene in the country for his favor given that his relatives and cronies still hold key govermental and military posts. Saleh, who held his grip over power in the country for 33 years, stepped down in exchange for immunity from prosecution after months of being defiant in the face of massive protests calling for his ouster.Yet it's undeniable that he still has some supporters and sympthizers in some areas especially in the capital. On Monday, Saleh has handed over the flag of Yemen to who once was his deputy, Hadi, affirming that he has handed over power to safe hands. The presidential polls that Hadi won was a part of the GCC-initiated, US and west backed power transfer deal signed in the Suadi capital of Riyadh in November. Hadi has addmitted on Monday that Yemen is at a very delicate and complex stage, calling on all factions in the country to engage in an inclusive national dialogue to overcome the current challenges. Posted by: Fred 2012-03-02 |
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