Saleh's new condition to see his son Vice President

Saleh supporters during a demonstration in Sanaa President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen made new conditions in order to sign the GCC agreement to leave power. Yemeni political sources revealed to Arabstoday that president Saleh has requested that responsibilities of the Vice President Major General Abd al-Rahman Mansur al-Hadi, who has been running the country since the president was injured in assassination attempt in his presidential palace, to step down from his position.

According to the Yemeni Constitution, General Hadi was supposed to call for early elections within sixty days from the date Saleh announced his resignation as president of Yemen after 33 years in power. According to sources, Saleh who has been receiving his treatment in Saudi Arabia since he was injured last January, has made it a condition that before he signs the GCC agreement, which is backed by the United States and Europe, a decree should be issued to appoint his son Ahmed, who is currently leading the Republican Guards and Special Forces, as Vice President to replace General Hadi.

The sources added that Saleh’s conditions have been discussed with the leaders of his ruling party whom he has met at his residence last Wednesday in Saudi Arabia. Saleh tried to justify his request by saying that he wants his Vice president to take part in the presidential elections, which take place two months after he leaves power, as otherwise Hadi would be his candidate for the President of Yemen and his party too. Sources have said that it’s unlikely for the opposition groups who have formed a coalition named Yemeni Opposition Joined Meeting Parties (JMPS) to accept Saleh’s condition and they did not confirm whether American, Gulf and European mediators are aware of or would accept the new condition.

The sources added that the revolution’s top priority was to see President Saleh leave power and to fight any efforts by Saleh to pass power to his son. Ruling party sources in Yemen have revealed today that the party led by Saleh is preparing for a tribal conference where more than four thousand sheikhs will attend next Tuesday. This will be followed two days later by a huge gathering for Saleh supporters to express their loyalty and their refusal to any efforts to exclude him. Political sources in Yemen describe such a move by Saleh loyalists and tribes supporting him as a way of strengthening Saleh’s popularity and to show that he still enjoys heavy support that might help him in getting away with his new condition.