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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Ali Abdullah Saleh

Ali Abdullah Saleh ( علي عبدالله صالح‎; born March 21, 1946 or 1942) is the first and current President of the Republic of Yemen. Saleh previously served as President of the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) from 1978 until 1990, at which time he assumed the office of chairman of the Presidential Council of the Republic of Yemen (unified Yemen). He is the longest-serving president of Yemen, ruling since 1978. On February 2, 2011, he announced that he would step down in 2013.

Saleh is a Zaydi Muslim born in the town of Almaradh in 1946. With less than an elementary school education, he joined the North Yemeni armed forces at an early age and became a corporal. He was promoted by his tribal leaders in 1977 when the President of North Yemen, Ahmed bin Hussein al-Ghashmi (an ally of the Hashed tribe), appointed him as military governor of Ta'izz. Bilateral relations between Sana'a (North Yemen) and Aden (South Yemen) were marked by long periods of hostility interrupted by brief periods of reconciliation and attempts at unification. When Yemeni officials in North Yemen and South Yemen weren't discussing their plans for unity they generally were plotting to destabilize each other. Open war started in October 1972. On 24 June 1978, a peace envoy from South Yemen, which had a communist orientation, assassinated northern President Al-Ghashmi with a bomb hidden in his briefcase.
On 17 July 1978, Saleh was elected by the Parliament to be the president of the republic, chief of staff and commander in chief of the armed forces. On December 1997, parliament approved his promotion to field marshal after he restored a Yemeni island from Eritrea through diplomatic means. Saleh now is the highest ranking military officer in Yemen. He also waged a war on the Houthis in the north in 2004, resulting in the death of more than ten thousand people.

2011 Yemeni protests
In late 2010 and early 2011, protesters demanded Saleh end his three-decade long rule because of his lack of democratic reform, widespread corruption and human rights abuses carried out by Saleh, his family members and close allies. On 2 February 2011, Saleh announced that he would not seek reelection in 2013, but would finish out his term. In response to the government violence against unarmed protesters, eleven MPs of his party resigned on 23 February. By 5 March this number had increased to 13, along with two deputy ministers. On 10 March Saleh announced a referendum on a new constitution, separating the executive and legislative powers. On March 18, at least 52 people were killed by government forces and over 200 injured, when unarmed demonstrators were fired upon on the university square. The president claimed that security forces weren't even on location and blamed local residents for the massacre.
Saleh fired his entire Cabinet on 20 March 2011. Saleh asked them to remain as a caretaker cabinet until he forms a new government. In March 22, 2011, Saleh warned that any attempt at overthrowing him would result in civil war

See also: 2011 Yemeni protests

2011 Yemeni protests

2011 Yemeni protests followed the initial stages of the Tunisian Revolution and occurred simultaneously with the Egyptian Revolution and other mass protests in the Arab world in early 2011. The protests were initially against unemployment, economic conditions and corruption, as well as against the government's proposals to modify the constitution of Yemen. The protestors' demands then escalated to calls for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign.

A major demonstration of over 16,000 protestors took place in Sana'a on 27 January. On 2 February, President Saleh announced he would not run for reelection in 2013 and that he would not pass power to his son. On 3 February, 20,000 people protested against the government in Sana'a, others protested in Aden, in a "Day of Rage" called for by Tawakel Karman, while soldiers, armed members of the General People's Congress and many protestors held a pro-government rally in Sana'a. In a "Friday of Anger" on 18 February, tens of thousands of Yemenis took part in anti-government demonstrations in Taiz, Sana'a and Aden. On a "Friday of No Return" on 11 March, protestors called for the ousting of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sana'a where three people were killed. More protests were held in other cities, including Al Mukalla, where one person was killed. On 18 March, protesters in Sana'a were fired upon resulting in over 40 deaths and ultimately culminating in mass defections and resignations.
Yemen has one of the lowest Human Development Index ratings in the Arab world.
Yemen is facing a conflict with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as a revolt from secessionists in southern Yemen (where Osama Bin Laden's family is originally from), who want to see the old South Yemen reconstituted. Additionally, there is also a Shia Houthi rebellion in the north of the country that wishes to be separate.
Ali Abdullah Saleh has been president of Yemen for more than 30 years, and many believe his son Ahmed Saleh is being groomed to eventually replace him. Almost half of the population of Yemen live on $2 or less a day, and one-third suffer from chronic hunger. Yemen ranks 146th in the Transparency International 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index, and 15th in the 2010 Failed States Index.
A draft amendment to the constitution of Yemen is currently under discussion in parliament despite opposition protests. The amendment seeks to allow Saleh to remain in the office of president for life. He urged the opposition to take part in an election on April 27 to avoid "political suicide."
The current parliament's mandate was extended by two years after an agreement in February 2009 agreement the ruling General People's Congress and opposition parties seeking a dialogue on political reforms such as: moving from a presidential system to a proportional representation parliamentary system and a more decentralised government. Neither measure has been implemented.
The students have focused on secular demands for an end to corruption and oppression. Starting in February, there were concerns that Islah, part of the JMP political group, was attempting to co-opt the student protests. There were chants of ‘No GPC, No Islah’ after al-Zindani's speech on 28 February, in which he renounced President Saleh and spoke of the return of the Islamic caliphate. There were also doubts about some of the government resignations being truly in support of the student protesters.
On 13 March, a coordination council of the Sana'a University protestors presented a list of seven demands, starting with the removal of Saleh and the creation of a temporary presidential council made up of representatives drawn from Yemen’s four main political powers along with one appointed by the national security and military establishment. Many members of the Revolutionary Coalition of Youth for Peaceful Change (12 organizations) and the Organization of Liberal Yemeni Youth appear to be represented by this coordination counil. On 17 March they sent a letter to US President Barack obama, copying British PM David Cameron and EU President John Bruton, explaining their group, positions and proposals.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Protests

Another front in the Arab revolution recently erupted in violence. After weeks of peaceful protest in Yemen, government forces have killed more than 50 people in Sana'a, the capital. Demonstrators are demanding the immediate resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

After 32 years in power, he now says he'll leave by year's end, but that's not eno....

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Protest yet as Yemen's president stays on

Sana'a: Anti-government protests in Yemen swelled Friday despite President Ali Abdullah Saleh saying he would step aside if power is transferred to a "safe pair of hands".

Facing growing calls for his ouster, the embattled president told thousands of his supporters that the opposition was a "small minority" of "drug dealers".

Yes for stability, no for chaos," Saleh told the cheering crowd, admitting he does not trust his oppo....

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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Sana'a International Airport

Sana'a International Airport or El Rahaba Airport (Sana'a International) (IATA: SAH, ICAO: OYSN) is a public airport located in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen. The runway is shared with a large military base with several fighter jets and transport aircraft of the Yemeni Air Force.

On June 30, 2009, Yemenia Flight 626, an Airbus A310, flight number IY626, departed from Sana'a International Airport, en route to Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport in Moroni, Comoros. Reportedly with 11 crew and 142 passengers aboard, including 66 French nationals, the aircraft crashed into the Indian Ocean on approach to the destination airport. A teenaged girl was the only survivor.

Yemenia

Yemenia - Yemen Airways ( الخطوط الجوية اليمنية‎) is the national airline of Yemen, based in Sana'a. It operates scheduled domestic services as well as international services to more than 30 destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Its main base is Sana'a International Airport, with a hub at Aden International Airport.
Yemenia is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.

History

The airline was established on 4 August 1961 as Yemen Airlines and started operations in 1962. Its head office was in the Ministry of Communication Building in Sana'a. It was reorganized and renamed Yemen Airways in 1972, following nationalisation. The Yemenia name was adopted on 1 July 1978, following the joint establishment early in 1977 of a new airline by the governments of the Yemen Arab Republic, now Republic of Yemen, and Saudi Arabia.
In 1990, the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen joined the Yemen Arab republic to form one state. Yemenia merged with South Yemen's Yemen Airlines on 15 May 1996. Following the PDRY airline's merger with Yemenia, many employees lost their posts either through retirement or dismissal.
The airline is presently owned by the government of Yemen (51%) and the government of Saudi Arabia (49%).
In 2001, a fire burned the Yemenia headquarters in Sana'a.
On 20 January 2010, British prime minister Gordon Brown announced that, owing to concerns of terrorist activity in Yemen, flights between the UK and Yemen would be suspended for the foreseeable future. It is envisaged that these restrictions will be lifted when UK government advisers in Yemen are satisfied that the security situation has improved.

Yemen Airlines

Yemen Airlines (Alyemda Arabic: اليمدا‎) was the national airline of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. It had its head office in the Alyemda Building on the grounds of Khormaksar Civil Airport in Aden.
Company history

Yemen Airlines was founded in 1971 and in the beginning used the Douglas DC-6, the de Havilland Canada Dash 7 and the Boeing 707. The home base was Aden and from there the route network extended to points in Africa and the Middle East. In October 1994, the fleet consisted mostly of Airbus A310-300 aircraft.[citation needed]
On 15 May 1996 Yemen Airlines merged with Yemenia.

Yemen president warns of civil war

Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh told army commanders on Tuesday there could be civil war in the Arabian Peninsula state because of efforts to stage what he called "coup" against his rule.

"Those who want to climb up to power through coups should know that this is out of the question. The homeland will not be stable, there will be a civil war, a bloody war. They should carefully consider this," he said in a speech before commanders.

Senior army commanders said on Monday they had switched support to pro-democracy activists who have been protesting for weeks, demanding that the veteran ruler stand down.

Yemen’s leader says he is ready to step down

SANAA, Yemen — Yemen’s embattled U.S.-backed president pledged to step down by year’s end but vowed not to hand power to military commanders who have joined the opposition in defections that he branded as an attempted coup.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Tuesday that a military coup would lead to civil war.

“Any dissent within the military institution will negatively affect the whole nation,” he said in a nationally televised warning to a meeting of Yemen’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. “The nation is far greater than the ambition of individuals who want to seize power.”

There was no immediate response from the opposition, which has won the loyalty of influential clergy and tribal leaders, along with the powerful army commanders now calling for Saleh’s ouster.

Saleh had rejected an earlier opposition demand that he resign by the end of the year.

Presidential spokesman Ahmed al-Sufi told The Associated Press that Saleh met with senior Yemeni officials, military commanders and tribal leaders Monday night and vowed not to hand power to the military. He said the Monday defection of military commanders including longtime confidante Maj. Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar was a “mutiny and a coup against constitutional legitimacy.”

“I don’t wish and will not accept the transfer of power to the military,” al-Sufi quoted Saleh as saying. “The military institution remains united. The era of coups is gone.”

Al-Ahmar, commander of the army’s powerful 1st Armored Division, deployed tanks and armored vehicles at the Defense Ministry, the TV building, the Central Bank and a central Sanaa square that has become the epicenter of the monthlong, anti-Saleh protests.

In response, the Republican Guards, an elite force led by one of Sale’s sons, deployed troops backed by armor outside the presidential palace on the capital’s southern outskirts.

The rival deployments created a potentially explosive situation at the city as news of a flurry of protest resignations by army commanders, ambassadors, lawmakers and provincial governors stepped up pressure on Saleh, Yemen’s leader of 32 years, to step down.

Al-Ahmar’s defection was seen by many as a turning point.

Speaking in Paris on Monday, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe called Saleh’s resignation “unavoidable” and pledged “support to all those that fight for democracy.”

Calling Al-Ahmar’s defection “a turning point,” Edmund J. Hull, U.S. ambassador to Yemen from 2001 to 2004, said it showed “the military overall ... no longer ties its fate to that of the president.”

“I’d say he’s going sooner rather than later,” Hull said.

In a sign of the Obama administration’s growing alarm over the regime’s crackdown on demonstrators, State Department spokesman Mark Toner called on the Yemeni leader to refrain from violence.

“We abhor the violence. We want a cessation of all violence against demonstrators,” Toner said, calling on Saleh to “take the necessary steps to promote a meaningful dialogue that addresses the concerns of his people.”

The 65-year-old president and his government have faced down many serious challenges in the past, often forging fragile alliances with restive tribes to extend power beyond the capital. Most recently, he has battled a seven-year armed rebellion in the north, a secessionist movement in the south and an al-Qaida offshoot that is of great concern to the U.S.

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, formed in 2009, has moved beyond regional aims and attacked the West, including sending a suicide bomber who tried to down a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day with a bomb sewn into his underwear. The device failed to detonate properly.

(source:washingtonpost.com)

Yemeni Leader Offers to Exit Earlier

SANA, Yemen — As his tenuous grasp on power eroded further with more public figures defecting to the opposition, President Ali Abdullah Saleh has accepted a proposal by his adversaries to plan his departure from office by the end of the year, a government official said on Tuesday. Previously he had offered only to leave by 2013.
It was not clear whether his offer would appease protesters who have been incensed by a bloody assault on a demonstration last Friday that killed at least 45 people.

The Yemeni leader shifted ground after a wave of high-level officials, including the country’s senior military commander, an important tribal leader and a half-dozen ambassadors abandoned him and threw their support behind protesters calling for his ouster.

The latest of the departures came on Tuesday when Abdel-Malik Mansour, Yemen’s representative to the Arab League, told Al Arabiya television he had thrown his support behind the protesters. Abdul-Rahman al-Iryani, the minister of water and environment, who was dismissed with the rest of the cabinet on Sunday, also said he was joining “the revolutionaries.”

A government official, who spoke in return for anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters, said on Tuesday that the details of Mr. Saleh’s proposal were not yet clear and were “still in the works.” The opposition proposal urged Mr. Saleh to complete arrangements for his departure by the end of the year. But since then, the opposition has backed away from the offer, initially made at the beginning of March, saying they want Mr. Saleh to quit immediately.

As the country girded for the next stage of a deepening crisis, military units appeared to take sides in the capital on Monday, with the Republican Guard protecting the palace of President Saleh and soldiers from the First Armored Division under the defecting military commander, Maj. Gen. Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar, protecting the throngs of protesters in Sana.

Despite a celebratory mood among the demonstrators, the standoff prompted the United States Embassy to urge Americans in Yemen to stay indoors on Monday night because of “political instability and uncertainty.”

In his letter of resignation on Tuesday, the former water minister declared: “It is becoming ridiculous that every member of the regime is now joining the revolution, when in fact they should surrender themselves to the revolution for trial for crimes that they committed against the people or looked the other way while these crimes were perpetrated on the people. Also, they should pledge not to occupy any public office in the future.”

Therefore, he wrote, “Having served as Minister of Water and Environment since 2006, hereby declare that I surrender to the Youth of the Revolution for fair accounting of any wrongs I may have committed against the people of Yemen and pledge not to hold any public office in the future.”

The defection of General Ahmar, who commands forces in the country’s northwest, was seen by many in Yemen as a turning point, and a possible sign that government leaders could be negotiating an exit for the president. But the defense minister, Brig. Gen. Muhammad Nasir Ahmad Ali, later said on television that the armed forces remained loyal to Mr. Saleh.

That suggested the possibility of a dangerous split in the military should Mr. Saleh, who dismissed his cabinet late Sunday night in the face of escalating opposition, decide to fight to preserve his 32-year rule. His son Ahmed commands the Republican Guard, and four nephews hold important security posts, and their ability to retain the loyalty of their troops in the face of ballooning opposition has yet to be tested.

The Obama administration has watched Mr. Saleh’s eroding position with alarm, for fear of both escalating violence and a power vacuum that might allow the branch of Al Qaeda in Yemen greater freedom to operate. Mr. Saleh has been a crucial ally in operations against the affiliate, called Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which since 2009 has mounted multiple terrorist plots against the United States.

General Ahmar and more than a dozen other senior commanders who followed his example said they had decided to support the protesters after a bloody assault on a demonstration on Friday in which more than 45 people were killed. “I declare on their behalf our peaceful support for the youth revolution and that we are going to fulfill our complete duty in keeping the security and stability in the capital,” General Ahmar told Al Jazeera on Monday. He said that violence against protesters was “pushing the country to the edge of civil war.”

General Ahmar is sometimes described as a rival of the president, and he has long opposed the possible succession to the presidency of Mr. Saleh’s son Ahmed. But the general is from the same village as the president and has mostly been a pillar of support for Mr. Saleh.
(source:nytimes.com)