[Yemen Post] Most Yemenis were eagerly waiting for president Saleh scheduled address to the nation today, as tomorrow marks Yemen's 1st revolution anniversary and the birth of its Republic.For a brief moment in time, Yemen was united in its awaiting of Saleh's verdict on a possible transfer of power. Rather disappointedly, Saleh's speech was not live but recorded and he appeared very much as a former shadow of himself; without his previous typical disdainful demeanor and bravado Saleh looked like a dear caught in daylight, haggard and wary. Interestingly, president Saleh announced that he had authorized his vice-president Abdu Rabu Mansoor Hadi to begin the negotiating process with the country's Opposition and vested him with the constitutional powers to sign and enact the proposal. This "power of attorney" of sorts made sense when Saleh was away in the KSA, recovering from the kaboom on his presidential compound, but less so now that he is back in the country. Why use a proxy? The embattled president went on blaming the past few days massacre onto the Opposition, saying: "This bloodbath will not get you power". He went further in his accusations by associating those opposed to the regime with al-Qaeda Death Eaters.In the same breath he promised however that he was committed to the GCC proposal enouncing the country's mechanisms of transfer of power. Mahjoob Zweiri, an expert on Middle East Affairs at the University of Qatar told the press in a televised interview that this "al-Qaeda" labeling of the protesters was bound to create tension in Yemen, polarizing yet more animosity towards the autocrat."I am not sure it will please people in Sanaa. What they were waiting for was his resignation," he said. "This kind of labeling might lead to more confrontation." In Sana'a people were less than convinced. "He is a liar, this is what he does, lie, lie, lie, promise, promise, promise, to win more time and finish us off," said a protester at "Change Square", the main gathering point of the revolution |