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| Arabia | |
| Saleh might come to US for 'medical treatment' | |
| 2011-12-29 | |
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. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 Isn't "do nothing" an option? Ask the Philosopher in Chief. |
| Posted by: gorb 2011-12-29 21:55 |
| #2 He'll keep dithering until the man either dies or is killed, and thus the problem solves itself. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-12-29 11:52 |
| #1 Watch for Cancer. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2011-12-29 01:04 |