Friday in Yemen marked another day of protests for hundreds of thousands of protesters in the capital, Sana'a and across the country. As in the previous weeks, the Opposition's Imams delivered a heart ranching speech, denouncing the many crimes and short-comings of the regime, urging people to stand strong in the face of difficulty as victory was close at hands.Dubbed the Friday of "Victory for our Yemen and our Syria" protesters marched along the capital main avenue, facing the potential threat of snipers at every corner, street or rooftop.
In pure "Arab spring" style, the regime organized its own rally of supporters, however not managing to gather more than a few thousand people.
This Friday was quite significant for the Opposition as its weekly "show of force" came a day only after president Saleh announced in an interview to the Washington Post that he would not be stepping down.
As far as the embattled dictator is concerned, the idea of having its fiercest opponent competing in the next presidential elections is not fathomable. He clearly stated that as long as defected General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and the al-Ahmar clan was allowed to remain in Yemen, free to pursue their political ambitions he would remain president of the Republic of Yemen.
"If we transfer power and they are there, this will mean that we have given into a coup," he said. "If we transfer power, and they are in their positions, and they are still decision-makers, this will be very dangerous. This will lead to civil war."
President-for-Life Saleh
... exemplifying the Arab's propensity to combine brutality with incompetence...
seems to be thinking that the General and the Sheikh could drag Yemen into a bloody civil war when he could prevent it.
Since the National Yemeni Council for the Revolution has several al-Ahmar members sitting on its board and that Mohsen is also a member, the regime might be having difficulties honoring its promises of negotiations with the Opposition.
As it happened one cannot always chose its opponents.